ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 24 February; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: I represented the United Kingdom at a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 24 February.
	The Irish Presidency briefly presented its work programme for the first half of the year. Their general priorities were enlargement, simplification and enhancement of food safety.
	The Council agreed by a qualified majority a regulation providing for tariff quotas for the importation of certain fishery products. Italy voted against because of its view that the quota for tuna loin imports was insufficient and Spain abstained because it felt that the quotas in general were too large. I supported the proposal.
	The Council noted progress on technical level discussions preparatory to political discussion at the April Council on the proposals for a regulation on the protection of animals during transport. There was a discussion, and I supported the need for an early agreement and for a longer-term objective of moving trade in live animals for slaughter to a meat basis.
	The Council noted a presentation from the Commission on its proposals for the financial perspective.
	The Council noted a report from the Greek Minister about severe weather conditions in Greece affecting agriculture and the sympathetic response from the Commission. Greece and the Commission would pursue the assessment of this situation bilaterally.
	The Council took note of a report from the Commission on its public hearing on 22 January on organic food and farming. This is preparatory to the tabling of an action plan by the Commission to the Council later in the Irish Presidency.
	Under any other business, the Council noted a written report on BSE and reports from Commissioner Byrne on the current situation in regard to Avian Influenza in Asia and a recent outbreak in the US. Commissioner Byrne notified the Council that acting under comitology procedures the Commission was to introduce a ban on the importation of live poultry and certain products from the US. The Council also noted a report from Spain and Portugal about the high level of feed grain prices and indications from Finland and Sweden that there remained supplies of oats which could be used.
	The Council also noted information from Italy and Portugal with support from other wine producing countries about recent changes which had been made to the use of traditional terms for wine imported from third countries. The Council noted that the Commission had explained that these changes were necessary to take account of recent discussions at WTO level.
	The Council noted information from France about the low level of milk prices. A wide range of views were expressed in subsequent discussion. I made the point that this was to be expected as a result of the changes agreed last June which was reflected in the compensation payments to be introduced shortly. The Commission undertook to produce an analysis of the situation with assistance from the member states.
	Finally the Commission amplified the terms of a letter which it had recently sent to all member states about the single farm payment to explain that it was simply making the point that member states which chose to operate on regional or hybrid models would need to justify this decision to the Commission as will be clarified in the Commission implementing regulations. This was noted by the Council.

Animal Welfare

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the prospects of obtaining approval under Article 30 of the Treaty of Rome to ban the live transport of horses to the Continent.

Alun Michael: We have considered very carefully the idea that the Government could seek a ban on the grounds of public morality (Article 30 of the Treaty of Rome), but we do not believe that this would be defensible (a) when horses have always been slaughtered in this country in order for the meat to be exported for human consumption and (b) when horses are exported for a variety of purposes. That is why we have concentrated our attention on issues of horse welfare during transport in order to make sure that we have future arrangements based on horse welfare which are stronger and more robust that the current 'minimum values' rules.

Energy White Paper

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan announced in the Energy White Paper of February 2003 is to be published; whether publication of the plan is expected to be within the timescale originally indicated in the White Paper; and when she expects to publish the second annual progress report on the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Elliot Morley: As announced in a written statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 3 February 2004, Official Report, columns 30–31WS, the Energy White Paper first annual report will be published shortly after the Easter recess. This will allow the Government to report on a full year from the launch of the White Paper in February 2003, as we are legally required to do by the Sustainable Energy Act 2003, as well as to capture some key energy statistics for the relevant period. Given the importance of energy efficiency to delivery of the Energy White Paper objectives, the Government intend to publish the Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan at the same time as the Annual Report. The Government also envisage simultaneous publication of the fuel poverty strategy implementation plan and the CHP strategy as well as the second annual progress report on the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Flood Defences

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance has been issued to the Environment Agency on matching local authority funding for flood defences.

Margaret Beckett: No such guidance has been issued. From April 2004 the Environment Agency's flood defence service in England will be funded primarily through Defra grant in aid which will replace, in large part, the levies that local authorities have previously paid to the Agency. We have, however, left in place a power for the Agency to levy local authorities to fund works not covered by Defra grant. These levies need to be agreed by the relevant flood defence committee on which the local authorities have a majority.
	Levies are also subject to a cap of three times the level of Formula Spending Share allocated to each local authority to support the levy payment.

Horses

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much horse meat was exported in 2003.

Alun Michael: In 2003, 1,566 tonnes of horse meat was exported from the UK.

Horses

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what (a) grants and (b) other public funding she has made available to defray the start-up costs of the National Equine Database;
	(2)  what the (a) start-up budget and the (b) running costs of the National Equine Database are; and from which budget it will be funded.

Alun Michael: Defra is making provision for funding the start up costs of the National Equine Database for the first two years, and thereafter Defra will be responsible for the on-going maintenance costs of the data that Defra will use.
	We have invited tenders to supply the database, and until the procurement process is complete the estimated costs for the database have to be treated as Commercial-in-Confidence.

Pig Industry

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the business recovery scheme to which the unspent funds from the pig industry restructuring scheme was re-allocated.

Alun Michael: The widely welcomed Business Recovery Fund (BRF) was set up in May 2001 to help small non-farming rural businesses recover from the effects of the foot and mouth outbreak. Pig farmers were eligible to apply for the BRF, but only if they wished to be helped to diversify from farming. The Fund provided a total of some £74 million for allocation to qualifying businesses. £54 million was new money provided by the Government, and the remainder was provided by Regional Development Agencies, who administered the Fund.

Rural Payments Agency

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) full and (b) part-time staff have been employed in the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last five years.

Alun Michael: The figures for the number of full and part-time staff employed by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) are set out in the following table.
	The RPA was inaugurated with effect from 16 October 2001.
	
		
			 From Full-time Part-time(1) 
		
		
			 16 October 2001 2,946.00 196.50 
			 31 March 2002 3,003.00 241.69 
			 31 March 2003 3,020.00 258.46 
			 31 March 2004(2) 3,336.00 291.70 
		
	
	(1) Full-time equivalent.
	(2) Forecast figure as at 31 March 2004.

TRANSPORT

Liquified Petroleum Gas

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage continued use of liquified petroleum gas following removal of road fuel tax support for liquid petroleum gas.

David Jamieson: Liquified petroleum gas (LPG), has and will continue to receive considerable support from Government, not only in the form of a duty incentive (worth £75 million in terms of duty forgone in 2002–03 alone), but also through grants for vehicle conversions (the Powershift scheme), and reduced rates of vehicle excise duty for gas-powered vehicles.
	As the pre-Budget report made clear, the relative environmental benefits of LPG vehicles have become less significant in recent years as a result of progressively tighter emission standards for new conventional petrol and diesel vehicles. As a result the Chancellor announced in the pre-Budget report that he will begin to gradually increase the rate for LPG over the next three years, setting duty differentials on a path towards a level commensurate with the fuel's environmental benefits. Consistent with the Government's commitment to give three-year certainty on duty differentials for alternative fuels, future differentials for the next three years will be announced at Budget 2004.

Correspondence

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State will reply to the letter of the hon. Member for Orpington of 2 October 2003, regarding the public safety zone surrounding Biggin Hill airport.

Tony McNulty: I regret that the hon. Member's letter had not been answered. I have written to him today explaining that in the light of revised forecasts of numbers and types of aircraft movements we have decided to reduce the size of the public safety zones at Biggin Hill airport. The effect will be that the areas of highest risk will no longer include any residential properties and that the airport company will no longer be expected to purchase any properties in Oaklands Lane or Victoria Gardens.

Motor Insurance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department is making on establishing a link between existing DVLA and motor insurance databases.

David Jamieson: DVLA established a link with the Motor Insurance Database on 17 February 2004 which allows the agency to confirm that a vehicle is insured prior to relicensing without having to view the insurance documents.
	The Motor Insurers Anti Fraud and Theft Register is also linked to DVLA and automatically updates the vehicle record when a vehicle is seriously damaged. This allows an identity check to be carried out when such a vehicle is returned to the road.

Overseas Hauliers (UK Roads)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many overseas hauliers paid to use UK roads in each of the last three years; and how much the Government received in each year.

David Jamieson: There is currently no charging regime in the UK for overseas hauliers. The Government announced in 2002 their intention to introduce a scheme to charge all lorries using UK roads on the basis of distance travelled. The Government remain committed to introducing such a charge and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the pre-Budget report his intention to publish a farther progress report during this year.

Statutory Off Road Notifications

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the (a) procedures and (b) priorities followed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency when issuing a reminder notice in the case of Statutory Off Road Notifications.

David Jamieson: Reminder notices are issued on or around the 15th day of the month of expiry of both the Statutory Off Road Notification and the vehicle licence.

CABINET OFFICE

Government Cars

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list Whips to whom Government cars have been allocated, indicating in each case the (a) make and (b) engine size.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 12 February 2004, Official Report, column 1569W.

Government Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much the Government plans to spend in the next 12 months on delivering services via interactive television.

Douglas Alexander: Information on expenditure on delivering services via interactive television is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Government Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what Government services projected to be delivered electronically in 2005 will be delivered through interactive television.

Douglas Alexander: Government Departments continue to work towards getting all Government services online by 2005, and seek to use Digital TV (DTV) wherever appropriate. Flagship services available now on DTV or planned by 2005 include Teacher TV, NHS Direct, Jobcentre Plus and the Pensions Service. In addition, UKonline Interactive is a world-first national one-stop-service for Government on DTV, bringing together access to all nationally available DTV services and progressively rolling out access to local government services on DTV.

Government Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much the Government expects to save by providing all services through electronic means by 2005.

Douglas Alexander: The 2005 target aims to widen and facilitate access to Government services.
	The Efficiency Review led by Sir Peter Gershon is encouraging Departments to review take-up of e-services to deliver savings.

Government Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the Government expects to have all its services available online by 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Departments continue to work towards the target of 100 per cent. availability by 2005.
	The latest figures on progress towards the target of making Government services available electronically by 2005 show that 66 per cent. of Government services are e-enabled.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many Parliamentary Questions have been tabled to his Department since 1 January 2003, broken down by (a) ordinary written and (b) named day; what percentage in respect of (a) were answered within 10 working days; and what percentage in respect of (b) were answered by the specified date.

Douglas Alexander: The detailed information is not held in the form requested. However, during the period 1 January 2003 to 31 January 2004 the Cabinet Office answered 84 Named Day Questions of which 80 per cent. were answered on time and 341 Ordinary Written Questions of which 43 per cent. were answered on time.

Websites

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much the Government has spent on its websites in each of the past four years.

Douglas Alexander: Individual Government Departments are responsible for the management and expenditure of their websites and as such expenditure figures are not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Fraud Trials

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Solicitor-General 
	(1)  what steps she is taking following the most recent developments in the London City Bond and Operation Puma cases, in relation to (a) prosecution for perjury and (b) disclosure of documents by HM Customs and Excise to the Butterfield Inquiry into this matter; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps she is taking following the most recent developments in the London City Bond and Operation Puma cases; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 12 February 2004
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 12 February 2004, Official Report, column 1552W, regarding the investigation jointly known as the London City Bond cases, and the review by Mr. Justice Butterfield that followed them. I also refer you to the Attorney General's statement made on 4 December 2003, Official Report [Lords], column WA32, which announced the Government's intention to establish an Independent Prosecutions Office dealing with Customs and Excise prosecutions. The process will start soon to recruit a new Head to that office who will be directly accountable to the Attorney-General. As well as the developments outlined in that answer, I would draw the hon. Member's attention to some of the steps taken by Customs and Excise Prosecutions Office to improve the disclosure process in the large and complex cases prosecuted by them.
	The Head of Prosecutions commissioned two reports on disclosure from CEPO's Quality Assurance team in order to assess and improve disclosure in CEPO cases. Recommendations from those reports are being taken forward.
	A conference on disclosure was hosted by CEPO in December of last year attended by members of the Bar, the judiciary and defence practitioners which explored the difficulties involved in disclosure in large and complex cases, and encouraged the exchange of ideas and best practice which CEPO will take forward.
	There is a current Metropolitan police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the LCB cases. No file has been received by the CPS in relation to any prosecutions arising from that investigation.

Iraq

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Solicitor-General what information the Attorney-General had received on weapons of mass destruction when he prepared his opinion on the legality of war against Iraq; whether this included information on weapons capable of being launched in 45 minutes; and whether it was indicated to him whether there were battlefield weapons or weapons deliverable to targets outside Iraq.

Harriet Harman: The Attorney-General received a briefing from the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee on the content of the Government dossier published in September 2002 on 19 September 2002. As I explained to the hon. and learned Member for Medway (Mr. Marshall-Andrews) in my reply to him dated 14 October 2003, the Attorney-General did not rely upon any facts or assertions contained in the September dossier as material to his conclusion set out in his statement of 17 March that Iraq had failed to comply with Resolution 1441 and that a legal base for the use of force existed in the combined effect of UN Security Council Resolutions 678, 687 and 1441.

Katharine Gun

Michael Ancram: To ask the Solicitor-General whether (a) she and (b) the Attorney General had discussions with the Director of Public Prosecutions about the case of Katharine Gun before the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to offer any evidence against her.

Harriet Harman: I have not discussed the case of Katharine Gun with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
	For certain offences, including those under the Official Secrets Act, the Attorney General's consent is required by statute before a prosecution can go ahead. The Director of Public Prosecutions discussed the case with the Attorney General before the CPS took the decision to offer no evidence against Katharine Gun on evidential grounds.

Katharine Gun

William Cash: To ask the Solicitor-General for what reasons the Attorney General did not issue a nolle prosequi in the case of Katharine Gun.

Harriet Harman: Under the Code for Crown Prosecutors, it is for the prosecution to keep under review the prospects of a conviction as the case progresses. Counsel in this case did so and the CPS decided not to proceed with the case, on the advice of counsel and after consultation with the Attorney General, because the evidence was such that there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.
	A nolle prosequi would not normally be entered where the reason not to proceed with the case is, as here, an evidential deficiency.

Parmalat

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General what discussions she has had since the Parmalat affair on greater co-operation between regulatory authorities (a) internationally and (b) at EU level; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: I have not discussed, since the Italian police investigation into Parmalat, the issue of greater co-operation between regulatory authorities internationally or at EU level.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Aerospace Industry

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of aerospace manufacturing and its supply chain in Lancashire.

Jacqui Smith: We recognise the contribution that the North West of England has made to the UK aerospace industry in the past and the important role it continues to play as part of a highly innovative and competitive defence industry.
	The Government's Defence Industrial Policy was launched in October 2002 and aims to enhance the industry's competitiveness and sustainability, while continuing to provide high quality equipment at best value for money. As part of that policy the MOD takes a range of factors into account when making major procurement decisions, and a key one is an evaluation of its impact on industrial activity regionally—both at prime contractor level and within the supply chain—and my Department actively contributes to that process.

Bankruptcy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to reduce the 8 per cent. interest rate charged on debts determined by the Judgment Act 1838 which is levied on bankruptcy debts under Rule 6.113 of the Insolvency Act 1986; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have no plans to amend Rule 6.113 of the Insolvency Rules 1986 so that a rate of interest other than that specified in section 17 of the Judgments Act 1838 will apply to debts mentioned in sub rules (2) and (3) and outstanding at the date of the bankruptcy order. It is for the Lord Chancellor, with the concurrence of the Treasury, to make any order amending the rate of interest which applied under section 17 of that Act.

Bankruptcy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to allow discretion on the charge of an interest rate of 8 per cent. on bankruptcy debts; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have no such plans. I consider the interest rate at which judgment debts carry interest to be the appropriate rate to be applied to bankruptcy debts in those cases where the Insolvency Act 1986 provides for section 17 of the Judgments Act 1838 to be applied.

Bankruptcy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to vary the percentage of debt recovered fee she charges for performance of her general duties under insolvency legislation; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: A new Insolvency Fees Order will come into effect on 1 April 2004 that will include a new rate of 17 per cent. "For the performance by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry of her general duties under the insolvency legislation in relation to the administration of the affairs of each company which is being wound up by the court" and "For the performance by the Secretary of State of her general duties under the insolvency legislation in relation to the administration of the estate of each bankrupt". However, the fee will not be applied to the first £2,000 of receipts in a case and the maximum of this fee in any one case will be limited to £100,000. The new rate will only apply to cases where the insolvency Order is made on or after 1 April 2004.
	For cases where the insolvency Order has been made before 1 April 2004 the current scales will continue to be applied except in relation to the affairs of companies which are being wound-up voluntarily where the fees will be revoked from 1 April 2004.
	This is only one of a number of changes being made on 1 April 2004 in relation to fees in insolvency cases. The new Fees Order, which will shortly be signed and be made available on The Insolvency Service's website (insolvency.gov.uk), seeks to simplify the fee structure applicable in relation to insolvency proceedings by reducing the number of fees payable. Hence it is not possible to make a direct comparison between any specific fee that will be prescribed in the new Fees Order with a specific fee charged under the Insolvency Fees Order 1986 or earlier legislation.

Bankruptcy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which body is responsible for (a) responding to complaints about and (b) reviewing trustees' remuneration under bankruptcy legislation.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Concerns regarding the remuneration of a trustee in bankruptcy should be addressed to the court dealing with the bankruptcy in question by making an application under either section 303 of the Insolvency Act 1986 or Rule 6.142 of the Insolvency Rules 1986.

Broadband

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the likelihood of achieving 100 per cent. broadband coverage by non-wireless connection by the end of 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Government's call in November 2003 for Government, public bodies and broadband providers to bring broadband to every community in the UK by the end of next year was supported by BT and other industry stakeholders.
	By January 2004, broadband either by cable or ADSL was available to 85 per cent. of households and that is almost certain to rise to 90 per cent. this year. Decisions on the type of networks to be deployed are predominately for the market. It is likely that wireless will make a contribution to 100 per cent. availability.
	The Government are making a significant contribution to ensure 100 per cent. broadband coverage is achieved. Between 2003 and 2006 public services will be spending £1 billion on broadband connectivity. The Regional Aggregation Bodies (trading as Adits) are using their buying power to bring broadband to new and previously untenable areas and the Regional Development Agencies will be spending or committing a further £235 million to broadband development by 2006. This will provide opportunities for further investment by industry using a range of appropriate technical solutions, including alternatives to ADSL and cable—for example, powerline and satellite in addition to wireless.

Call Centres

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of (a) call centres and (b) call centre jobs in Leeds.

Patricia Hewitt: Existing information does not enable us to provide reliable figures. However, my Department has commissioned research on the key factors contributing to the relative competitiveness of UK call centre operations to help identify any appropriate actions which need to be taken by industry or Government in response to the increasingly global market for call centre services. This will include an examination of the main product areas in the UK call and contact centre industry that are vulnerable to growing competition from lower-wage economies; and which types of call and contract centre activity and which regions have been most affected or are most likely to be affected in the near future.

Call Centres

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of call centre jobs relocated abroad in the last five years.

Patricia Hewitt: Existing information does not enable us to provide reliable figures. Official statistics do not generally separate call centre activities from the main activity of a firm or enterprise (e.g. banking). The term "Call Centre" can be used to describe a broad variety of functions and activities across a wide range of commercial, industrial and public sectors. Difficulties and differences in definition are reflected in commercial market research on call centres where estimates on the number of call centres and call centre employees vary substantially. In light of this my Department has commissioned research on the key factors contributing to the relative competitiveness of UK call centre operations to help identify any appropriate actions which need to be taken by industry or Government in response to the increasingly global market for call centre services.

Cold Calling

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Office of Fair Trading will report on its investigation into the complaint from the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux regarding cold calling.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Office of Fair Trading expect to report in April. They expect to make public their position on legislative options for tackling bogus traders in advance of the full report.

E-commerce

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of UK retail was represented by on-line shopping in each quarter since January 1999; and what targets her Department has set for on-line shopping as a proportion of all UK retail.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Official statistics separately identifying online orders within the retail sector are not available. In 2002, the value of online orders received from households by the UK wholesale, retail, catering, travel and telecommunications sectors was £5.2 billion (excluding the financial sector). This represents an increase of 63 per cent. from the 2001 estimate of £3.2 billion. Figures for the period prior to this are not available (Source: Office for National Statistics experimental statistics 1 ). These figures represent 0.3 per cent. of total sales by UK businesses (excluding the financial sector) in 2002 and 0.2 per cent. in 2001. Total UK retail sales were £230 billion in 2002 and £219 billion in 2001.
	The Department does not set targets for on-line shopping.
	1 2002 e-commerce survey of business.

E-mail

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates her Department has made of (a) the number of spam e-mails sent to UK companies and (b) the cost to business associated with tackling spam e-mails in 2002–03.

Stephen Timms: The Government do not have an estimate of the number of spam e-mails sent to UK companies or the cost to businesses here in tackling spam e-mails in 2002–03, although business recipients of spam point to the impact of time spent in deleting spam messages and paying for anti-spam and anti-virus protection. The UK is actively involved in a current exercise by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development which aims to develop better techniques for measuring spam and estimating its impact.

Employment Information Booklets

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what savings she estimates will be made by the ending of the supply of printed employment information booklets (a) URN 03/595, (b) URN 03/597, (c) URN 00/632, (d) PL 517, (e) PL 699, (f) PL 700, (g) PL 704, (h) PL 707, (i) PL 711, (j) PL 712, (k) PL 714, (l) Pl 716, (m) PL 718, (n) PL 724, (o) PL 808, (p) PL 810, (q) PL 833 and (r) PL 958; and how much additional grant funding will be made available to citizens' advice bureaux to cover the extra costs to their offices of receiving the booklets electronically.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department estimates savings in the region of £140,000 per annum. Booklets (a), (b), (l) and (m) (replaced by PI 718x) remain available in hard copy.
	Acas produces leaflets on individual employment rights. These can be obtained free of charge from the Acas distribution centre on 08702 429090. Therefore I do not consider it necessary or appropriate to provide additional grant funding to Citizen's Advice Bureaux.

Financial Services Industry

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department intends to introduce legislation on the consumer credit market in the UK.

Gerry Sutcliffe: On 8 December 2003 we published a White Paper setting out our proposals on the consumer credit market. This was the culmination of the first major review of the regulation of this market in 30 years. The regulatory proposals in the White Paper will be implemented by a combination of Statutory Instruments, which will be brought forward during the course of this year with the first coming into force in October 2004, and a Bill, which will be introduced when parliamentary time is available.

Financial Services Industry

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to promote the reporting by financial services companies of suspected cases of money laundering.

Gerry Sutcliffe: HM Treasury and the Home Office are jointly responsible for the UK's money laundering reporting regime. Financial services companies, along with other businesses in the "regulated sector", are required to have in place formal systems for deterring, detecting and reporting money laundering and to train their staff accordingly. The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 substantially strengthened these requirements, for example by making it a criminal offence to fail to make a disclosure where there are reasonable grounds to know or suspect money laundering.
	This Department works closely with the Treasury and Home Office in supporting this regime.

Flexible Working

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department expects to conclude its review of the legislation on flexible working.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Following on from the detail I provided in my answer to my hon. Friend on 3 February 2004, Official Report, columns 777–78W, we continue to gather data which will form the evidence base for the review scheduled to commence in 2006. However at such an early stage it is inappropriate to speculate on the nature of the review itself, and therefore the length of time it may take.

Football (Scotland)

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what responsibilities her Department has in relation to the Scottish football industry; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 27 February 2004
	My Department has no responsibilities in relation to the Scottish football industry.

Gas Storage

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her policy on the development of gas storage facilities in underground caverns formed within deep rock salt deposits.

Stephen Timms: As Great Britain becomes increasingly dependent on imported gas it will be important that the market continues to provide sufficient flexibility to meet demand. Gas storage projects help do this. The Government therefore welcomes proposals for new projects. They must, of course, obtain necessary planning and other regulatory consents.

Higher Education Innovation Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money was spent on the first round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund.

Patricia Hewitt: Around £78 million has been awarded to 89 applicants under the first round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund. A further £1 million has already been allocated to organisations to train more knowledge-transfer professionals.

Higher Education Innovation Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the budget is for the second round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund; and how many organisations will be eligible for this funding.

Patricia Hewitt: £187 million will be available to higher education institutions through the second round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF 2).
	132 higher education institutions in England are eligible for HEIF 2 funding.

Local Government Finance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants were awarded to local authorities in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley in each of the last three financial years that fall outside the revenue support grant.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department of Trade and Industry provided the following grants:
	(a) Lancashire county council
	Start-up grant of £5,000 in 2001–02 to develop a Consumer Support Network. Lancashire county council are part of the trading standards North of England regional group who received funding of £42,000 in 2001–02 and 2002–03 for regional co-ordination projects, £96,900 in 2002–03 to support an e-commerce enforcement project and £74,753 and £100,000 in 2003–04 for trading standards enforcement co-ordination projects and a consumer education project respectively.
	(b) Chorley borough council
	No grants were awarded to Chorley borough council from the Department of Trade and Industry.

Manufacturing Skills Base

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government schemes and initiatives have been enacted to retain the skills base in the United Kingdom following manufacturing job losses.

Stephen Timms: The Government's Manufacturing Strategy, which we developed in partnership with industry, trade unions and other stakeholders, aims to create a high-value manufacturing sector in the UK with a highly skilled and well paid workforce, moving away from competing on the basis of low skill and low wages. We are continuing to develop a range of initiatives under the Skills Strategy such as employer training pilots, modern apprenticeships, the growing network of Sector Skills Councils and other measures to better deploy and retain skills to improve business performance.
	Where there are significant redundancies in the manufacturing sector, the Rapid Response Service works to move people quickly into new jobs, preventing them from becoming detached from the labour market. Although a trend to declining manufacturing employment has been a feature of advanced economies over the last 30 years, new jobs are still being created all the time. Around 250,000 manufacturing vacancies were reported to Jobcentre plus in the last year. Overall the UK labour market is performing well, with total employment rising by nearly 1.7 million since spring 1997, and unemployment falling in every region in Britain over the past year.

Near Earth Objects

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will maintain the level of service provided by the (a) National Near Earth Object Information Centre and (b) the Spaceguard Centre.

Patricia Hewitt: The British National Space Centre (BNSC) has contributed funding to the setting up and maintenance of the Near Earth Object (NEO) Information Centre based at the National Space Science Centre in Leicester. It provides information to the public and monitors NEO activity. This follows the recommendations of the Near Earth Object Task Force Report. The BNSC contract expires on 31 December 2004. The Government has not contributed funding to the Space Guard Centre in the UK.

Online Banking

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with the banking sector to combat internet hackers and fraudsters from obtaining customers' online banking details through deception and other means.

Stephen Timms: The Department has no direct responsibility for the banking sector. As part of our normal discourse with business we do speak with the banking sector, including discussion of recent attempts to gain customers' passwords and other details. The results of these discussions are reflected in our promotion of information security best practice to business.

Post Office

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedures govern the categorisation of rural and urban post offices.

Stephen Timms: The decision to classify a post office branch as urban or rural is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. The company classifies as rural any post office within a community of less than 10,000 inhabitants. Above that the post office is classified as urban. I understand that the company has a geographical mapping model that enables it to adopt a consistent approach to classification across the country.

Public Sector Research Exploitation Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been spent on the Public Sector Research Exploitation Fund in each year since its inception; and how many organisations have received assistance through this fund.

Patricia Hewitt: An award totalling over 10 million was made through the Public Sector Research Exploitation (PSRE) fund in October 2001. A second round of the PSRE fund worth almost 15 million was announced in the Science Budget for 200306. Money spent so far in Round 1 is as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 200102 287,500 
			 200203 7,521,860 
			 200304 300,000 
			 Total 8,109,360 
		
	
	A further 2,000,000 of funding has been approved but not yet drawn down.
	19 applications received funding through PSRE round 1 and 16 in PSRE round 2. The organisations that have received assistance through the fund in rounds 1 and 2 are listed as follows, with their funding allocation. In collaborative applications to the fund, institutions nominate a lead establishment, shown as follows.
	
		
			 Lead Institution Partner Institutions Award () 
		
		
			 Public Sector Research Establishment Round 1 
			 Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Defence Science and Technology Laboratory 4,000,000 
			 Councils (CCLRC) Natural Environment Research Council  
			  Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council  
			  UK Atomic Energy Authority  
			
			 CCLRC  475,000 
			
			 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust  510,000 
			
			 Central Science Laboratory Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture 231,860 
			  Veterinary Laboratories Agency 
			 Institute of Food Research Plant Bioscience Ltd. 160,000 
			
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Barnsley District General Hospital NHS Trust 220,000 
			  Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust  
			  Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust  
			  Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust  
			  York Health Services NHS Trust  
			
			 National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside Lynton Lasers Ltd. 287,500 
			  Product Innovation and Development Centre  
			
			 Natural Environment Research Council  600,000 
			
			 Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Hospitals Trust BioSci North Ltd. 270,000 
			  MKW Engineering Ltd.  
			  Newcastle General Hospital  
			  NHS Executive, Northern and Yorkshire Region  
			  RTC North Ltd.  
			  University of Newcastle upon Tyne  
			
			 Particle Physics and Astronomy Research CERN 200,000 
			
			 Plant Bioscience Ltd.  530,000 
			
			 Public Health Laboratory Service National Institute of Biological Standards and Controls 300,000 
			
			 South Glasgow University Hospitals Trust BioIndustry Association (Scotland) 425,000 
			  Connect  
			  Grampian University Hospital NHS Trust  
			  Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust  
			  LINC Scotland  
			  Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust  
			  Scottish Enterprise  
			  Scottish Executive, Chief Scientists  
			  Scottish National Blood Transfusion  
			  Tayside University Hospital NHS Trust  
			
			 University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull NHS Trust 300,000 
			  Birmingham Specialist Community Health NHS Trust  
			  Burton Hospital NHS Trust  
			  City Hospital NHS Trust  
			  Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust  
			  Mid Staffordshire General Hospital NHS Trust  
			  North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trust  
			  Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic  
			  South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust  
			  South Warwickshire General Hospital NHS Trust  
			  The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust  
			  The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust  
			
			 University Hospital NHS Trust Nottingham City Hospital Trust 300,000 
			  South Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust  
			
			 Four London NHS Trusts comprising:   
			 Barts and the London NHS Trust City and Hackney Primary Care Trust  
			  East London and City Mental Health Trust  
			  Homerton Hospital NHS Trust  
			  Newham Healthcare Trust  
			  Newham Primary Care Trust  
			  Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust  
			
			 Guy's and St. Thomas's NHS Trust Epson and St. Helier NHS Trust  
			  King's College Hospital Trust  
			  Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust  
			  South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust  
			  St. George's Hospital NHS Trust  
			  The Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability  
			
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust  
			  Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust  
			  North West London Hospitals Trust  
			  St. Mary's NHS Trust 
			 The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust Camden and Islington Community Health Services NHS Trust 1,300,000 
			  Camden and Islington Mental Health NHS Trust  
			  Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust  
			  Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust  
			  North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust  
			  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust  
			  The University College London Hospitals NHS Trust  
			  The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust  
			
			 Total  (3)10,109,360 
			
			 Public Sector Research Establishment Round 2 
			 Barts and the London NHS Trust The Royal Free Hampstead 2,300,000 
			  The Royal Brompton and Harefield  
			  Guy's and St. Thomas'  
			  The London Development Agency  
			
			 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC) 2,000,000 
			  Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)  
			  Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)  
			  Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC)  
			  UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)  
			
			 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University TrusTECH 750,000 
			 Hospitals NHS Trust Health Protection Agency  
			  BIONOW  
			  Medical Devices Faraday  
			
			 CLIK Knowledge Transfer  750,000 
			
			 Defence Science and Tech Lab (DSTL) Central Science Laboratory 1,000,000 
			  Health Protection Agency  
			  Veterinary Laboratories Agency  
			
			 Forensic Science Service, The  500,000 
			
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust  
			  Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 250,000 
			  Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust  
			  York Hospitals NHS Trust  
			  Barnsley District General Hospital NHS Trust  
			  Yorkshire Forward  
			  Medilink (Yorkshire and Humber)  
			
			 Moredun Research Institute Roslin Institute 1,500,000 
			  Rowett Research Institute  
			  Scottish Agricultural College  
			  Institute for Animal Health  
			
			 Natural Environment Research Council  600,000 
			
			 National Museums Liverpool Lynton Lasers 750,000 
			  The Hothouse  
			  Castle Fine Arts Foundry  
			  Shape Design  
			
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Hospitals Trust RTC North Ltd. 490,000 
			  University of Newcastle upon Tyne Regional Medical Physics Dept  
			  City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust  
			  Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences  
			  North Tyneside Primary Care Trust  
			  County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust  
			  South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust  
			  University of Durham  
			
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, The South East England Development Agency 540,000 
			  Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust  
			  Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust  
			  Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 
			 Papworth Hospital NHS Trust The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 500,000 
			  Addenbrookes NHS Trust  
			  East of England Development Agency  
			
			 Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC)  175,000 
			
			 Plant Biosciences Ltd BBSRC 1,800,000 
			
			 Roslin Institute (Genecom) Institute of Animal Health 800,000 
			  Moredun Research Institute  
			
			 Total  14,705,000 
		
	
	(3) The Advisory Board recommended that the additional 109,360 (over and above the 10 million allocated for the PSRE Fund) be taken from the surplus from University Challenge.

Public Sector Research Exploitation Fund

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many organisations have been helped by the Public Sector Research Exploitation Fund in each year since its inception.

Patricia Hewitt: The Public Sector Research Exploitation Fund has been awarded through two competitive funding rounds. PSRE Round 1 awards were made in October 2001 with over 10 million going to 19 lead institutions. The allocation of Round 2 funds was announced in January 2004. Almost 15 million went to 16 lead organisations. For a list of organisations that have received assistance from the fund, please refer to PQ No. 157250 answered today.

Security Breaches

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff are employed in her Department to tackle problems arising from information security breaches.

Patricia Hewitt: Fourteen staff employed in my Department may potentially be involved in investigating, and tackling problems arising from, information security breaches. Others from across the Department and from our key service suppliers may assist these staff when dealing with individual cases.

Springfields Site (USA)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason she has accepted responsibility on behalf of the taxpayer for the costs of clearing up the Springfields site in the United States; what steps she is taking to identify those individuals responsible for generating this environmental and financial liability; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Springfields, the BNFL fuel manufacturing facility is located near Preston in Lancashire. The NDA on formation will become responsible for its clean-up.

Sugar Regime

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to respond to the letter to her from the Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionery Alliance concerning reform of the sugar regime; and for what reason she has not yet responded.

Patricia Hewitt: My office has no record of having received this letter. If the hon. Member writes to me again I will ensure that a response is sent as soon as possible.

UK Online for Business

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what products her Department intends to introduce to rationalise the activities of UK online for business; how these will encourage the effective use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies by small and medium-sized companies; and what the projected costs are for each new product;
	(2)  what the budget is for the forthcoming year to promote effective use of information and communication technology by businesses.

Stephen Timms: Under its programme of reform of business support products my Department is launching two new products under the theme of Achieving best practice in your business. These bring together the best of a number of existing schemes such as UK online for business and Fit for the Future, as well as offering direct support for implementation of best practice business projects. The promotion of effective use of information and communication technology will underpin these products, which will have a programme budget, in the first year, of 20 million.

Weights and Measures Act

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in amending the Weights and Measures Act 1985 to facilitate electronic communications.

Stephen Timms: The Government are in the process of identifying provisions in consumer legislation, including the Weights and Measures Act 1985, which may need to be amended. The Government aims to start public consultations on any proposed changes by March 2005.

Written Ministerial Statement

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement made by the Minister for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services on 5 February 2004, Official Report, column 48WS, on Post Office Urban Reinvention Network, 
	(1)  what his definition of dense network is;
	(2)  what percentage of post offices in urban deprived areas are situated in dense networks.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 26 February 2004
	Post Office Ltd. defines a dense network of surrounding offices, in the context of offices in the 10 per cent. most deprived areas, as being several accessible branches in the 0.5 to one mile range travelling distance. Each proposal will however be considered on an individual basis with regard to reasonable transport links between the branches and travel across the area generally needed for retail needs. In addition, the role of Postwatch in the consultation process ensures that each proposal is analysed on a case-by-case basis.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much money his Department has provided to the Burma Border Consortium in (a) 200203 and (b) 200304;
	(2)  what steps his Department has taken to meet the food needs of refugees in camps on the Thai-Burmese border in 200304;
	(3)  what support his Department has made available in (a) 200203 and (b) 200304 for Burmese refugees outside the country.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Department provided 600,000 to the Burmese Border Consortium in 200203 and 450,000 in 200304 to help meet the food needs of refugees in Thailand. 220,000 is being provided in 200304 for a border areas health programme of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which covers refugees in Thailand.
	The Department is also providing support to refugees from Burma through the European Commission (EC). The EC has so far allocated 2 million euros (2.8 million) for the Burmese Border Consortium, over the period 200204, 20 per cent. of which is attributable to the UK.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money has been provided by his Department in (a) 200203 and (b) 200304 to assist internally displaced people in Burma and to provide education for Burmese refugees in refugee camps on the Burma-Thailand border.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Department did not support programmes specifically focused on internally displaced people in Burma in 200203 or 200304. However, internally displaced people may be among the beneficiaries of other DFID programmes during this period, such as a UNICEF-led immunisation programme in Burma for which DFID provided 567,000 in 200203, work by the International Committee of the Red Cross for which DFID provided 1.5 million in 200203, and some small grants to civil society organisations in both years.
	Our support in these years to Burmese refugees in camps on the Thai-Burma border focused on meeting basic food needs. Some support for education activities has been provided in the past through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as detailed in my reply to another question from the hon. Member for Buckingham.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what the projected level is of expenditure by his Department in 200405 on wildlife projects in Burma; and how the money will be allocated;
	(2)  what funding has been provided by his Department in 200304 for wildlife projects in Burma; and how the money was allocated.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Department has not funded wildlife projects in Burma during 200304 and currently has no plans to do so in 200405.

Deforestation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the world's rainforests has been destroyed in each of the last 10 years to provide land purely to provide food for animals; and how much grain for humans this land could provide per year.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: A recent Food and Agriculture Organisation study sampled 10 per cent. of the world's tropical forests in 1980, 1990 and 2000. The key changes noted were a loss of 'closed forest' (i.e. rain forest) amounting to 7080 million hectares per decade, and a gain in other land cover, primarily cultivation and pastures, of an almost identical area.
	It is not possible to state the proportion of forest destroyed to provide food for animals, since deforested land often has a sequence of changing uses. For example, in South America land cleared for cattle ranching is often later used for soy bean cultivation. In Africa, land cleared for small-scale landholdings is often used for both cultivation and raising livestock.
	It is not possible to say how much grain for humans deforested land could provide per year owing to huge variations in land fertility.

Economic and Social Commission forAsia and the Pacific

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the forthcoming Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific population and development meetings in (a) Santiago in March and (b) Puerto Rico in June.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: This year the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean will be holding a 10-year regional review of progress against the commitments made in the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994 (ICPD). The process will consist of two parts: Firstly there will be a technical open-ended meeting of an ad-hoc working group in Santiago, Chile in March. The outcome of this will be a report of key lessons and challenges in relation to further implementation of ICPD. Secondly there will be a high-level regular meeting of ECLAC in Puerto Rico in June, which will consider the outcome of Santiago.
	The UK Government will be represented at both these meetings as members of ECLAC. We are keen to emphasise the importance of the ICPD commitments and to support countries that do not wish to weaken the consensus of ICPD. DFID is particularly concerned with maintaining wording on reproductive health, rights and sexual health and avoiding unproductive arguments about issues that have already been agreed. The emphasis of the two ECLAC meetings should be on monitoring of progress of the ICPD commitments in the region and discussion around enhancing progress for the next 10 years.

Ethiopia

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on progress on human rights in Ethiopia; what indicators he is using to monitor human rights in Ethiopia; and when he expects the Ethiopian Government to set up the Human Rights Commission promised in 2000.

Hilary Benn: When I visited Ethiopia in February I spoke to Prime Minister Meles and members of his Government about how respect for human rights can be improved. The Prime Minister accepted there are problems, but told me of his commitment to improving this situation. He gave an undertaking to build the capacity of the judiciary and security sectors to help protect constitutional rights for all.
	The Government of Ethiopia have agreed to link progress with human rights to our UK budget support agreement. The 'Establishment of a Human Rights Commission and Ombudsman' will be one indicator of progress. The target for June 2004 is for the commissioners of both bodies to be appointed. By June 2005, both bodies will be expected to produce a report outlining cases and complaints handled.
	We will be monitoring progress carefully.

Famine

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the amount of grain required to provide an adequate level of sustenance for those people living in famine.

Hilary Benn: DFID follows the international guidelines as set by the World Food Programme and the World Health Organisation for the provision of food in emergency situations.
	The guidelines recommend a minimum of 2,100 Kcals per person per day. This is equivalent to approximately 600 g of grain. However, wherever possible, we seek to ensure a diet with an appropriate balance of nutrients. Rations are therefore not usually provided as grain alone, but typically consist of 400 g of grain, 50 g of corn soy blend, 25 g of oil, 60 g of pulses and 15 g of sugar per person per day.
	Different degrees of under-nourishment require different feeding regimes. For example, severely malnourished children are usually taken into a therapeutic feeding regime that will provide 200 Kcal per kilogramme of body weight per day. The rations are usually made up of a mixture of fortified flour, oil, sugar, vitamins and mineral complex and other local foods as appropriate.

HIV/AIDS

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment his Department has made of trends in HIV/AIDS rates in countries identified by UNAIDS as the worst affected countries.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID provides support to UNAIDS, and looks to them to provide information on the global status of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Last December, UNAIDS launched the Global Epidemic Update (available at www.unaids.org) which provided a synthesis of trends in the epidemic in all regions. They will be producing detailed country information to launch at the World AIDS Conference in July 2004 in Bangkok.

HIV/AIDS

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what representations his Department has made to UNAIDS about changes to future exercises estimating HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in sub-Saharan Africa, to include population-based surveys as opposed to surveys which indicate trends in HIV prevalence;
	(2)  what representations his Department has (a) received from non-governmental organisations and (b) made to UNAIDS on over-estimates of HIV/AIDS rates in sub-Saharan Africa by UNAIDS;
	(3)  what research his Department (a) has commissioned and (b) plans to commission into differences between data based on population-based surveys and on ante-natal clinic-based surveys in giving reliable estimates of the level of HIV/AIDS infection in sub-Saharan Africa;
	(4)  what representations his Department (a) has made and (b) plans to make to UNAIDS to include population-based HIV survey data in UNAIDS' next report on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: We have not received any representations from non-governmental organisations on over-estimates of HIV/AIDS rates in sub-Saharan Africa. This Department does not plan to commission research into the differences between data based on population-based surveys and on ante-natal clinic-based surveys in giving reliable estimates of the level of HIV/AIDS infection in sub-Saharan Africa. UNAIDS has the mandate to provide information on the status of the epidemic.
	UNAIDS included information about methodological issues relating to differences between data taken from these two different sources in the Global Epidemic update, which was released last World AIDS day. They concluded that population based surveys are likely to underestimate true HIV prevalence in most cases, because some respondents are absent from the household at the time of a survey and some refuse to participate. UNAIDS also recognise that most antenatal clinic-based surveillance systems have limited geographical coverage, which can lead to wide variations in the quality of the national estimate of HIV prevalence.
	UNAIDS is now doing some analysis linking behavioural data to the surveys, to see whether and how that has affected the result of the population-based surveys. They will convene a meeting in May to analyse different results across a number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa from the two sources of data. They aim to report findings at the World AIDS Conference in Bangkok in 2004.
	We have not made any specific representations to UNAIDS about changes to future exercises estimating HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in SA, to include population based surveys as opposed to surveys which indicate trends in HIV prevalence. DFID is in dialogue with them on issues around data sources for HIV estimates. UNAIDS contend that conducting ante-natal clinic-based surveys and population surveys at three to five year intervals can serve as valuable components of surveillance systems and can help improve estimates of the levels and trends in HIV prevalence. This Department supports UNAIDS in their efforts to analyse the different results from different sources, rather than relying on one source alone. All HIV estimates need to be assessed critically. Using different sources for data and interrogating the results will always provide more robust analysis than relying on one source.

HIV/AIDS

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the Department is providing for research into developing vaccines to prevent HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID have agreed to provide a contribution of 14 million over the period January 2000 to December 2004 in support of the work of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).
	IAVI is a global non-profit making organisation that is working to speed the development and distribution of preventive AIDS vaccines through: mobilising support through advocacy and education; accelerating scientific progress; encouraging industrial participation in AIDS vaccine development; and assuring global access.IAVI's stated mission is to ensure the development of safe, effective, accessible, preventive AIDS vaccines for use throughout the world.

Kuwait

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the UK's contribution to the Humanitarian Operations Centre in Kuwait is; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Humanitarian Operations Centre in Kuwait was established prior to the conflict by the Coalition military and the Kuwaiti Government to support the coordination and facilitation of humanitarian operations from Kuwait into southern Iraq. The UK military contributed human resources. DFID has not contributed financially to the centre but is involved closely with it, including through the sharing of information. We have benefited from its information and co-ordination functions.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many Parliamentary Questions have been tabled to his Department since 1 January 2003, broken down by (a) Ordinary Written and (b) Named Day; what percentage in respect of (a) were answered within 10 working days; and what percentage in respect of (b) were answered by the specified date.

Hilary Benn: Since 1 January 2003, DFID has been asked 2,358 Written Parliamentary Questions. We are unable to break this down into Ordinary Written and Named Day Questions without incurring disproportionate cost.
	DFID try to respond to Parliamentary Questions within the Parliamentary deadlines whenever possible.

Swaziland

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid his Department intends to offer Swaziland in respect of the recent declaration of a state of national emergency.

Hilary Benn: DFID is supporting the work of the Vulnerability Assessment Committee in Swaziland, and has provided funding to the Food and Agriculture Organisation to run a series of seed fairs providing tools and seeds to families to enable them to grow food. We have also provided emergency funding to UNICEF to improve water and sanitation in schools. We have no immediate plans to provide further assistance following the emergency declaration.

Swaziland

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid his Department will offer to Swaziland in relation to its HIV/AIDS policy.

Hilary Benn: DFID supports Swaziland's efforts to combat HIV/AIDS through two regional programmesthe International Partnership against AIDS in Africa (implemented by UNAIDS and ActionAid), and a programme implemented by the Southern African Development Community.

UK Presidencies (G8/EU)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in the last 12 months on the priorities the Government intend to pursue when the UK assumes the presidencies of the (a) G8 and (b) EU.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: I refer the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington to the response given by the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane) on 26 February 2004, Official Report, column 483W, regarding the same matter.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has held with representatives of the French government about future carrier requirements and co-operation thereon.

Adam Ingram: Defence Ministers routinely meet with their French opposite numbers and the UK's Future Aircraft Carrier programme has frequently been discussed in that context. There is a high level steering group which helps to facilitate UK French co-operation and, in addition, there have been regular meetings on the subject both between project officials from the UK's Defence Procurement Agency and their equivalents in the DGA and on a navy-to-navy basis. These meetings have identified several areas for potential co-operation.

Armed Forces Compensation

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims under the Armed Forces compensation scheme were successful in each of the last five years; what estimate he has made of the number of likely successful cases per year under the proposed new scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence provides benefits for death, injury or illness due to service through the War Pensions Scheme and the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. The number of awards for new claims under the War Pensions Scheme in the last five years is set out as follows (the figures are taken from Table 2.5 of the recently published March edition of the War Pensions Quarterly Statistics). This includes awards where a pension was paid and those where only a gratuity was paid:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 199899 6,810 
			 19992000 7,445 
			 200001 6,385 
			 200102 6,955 
			 200203 5,440 
		
	
	Current Information Technology systems do not enable us to identify the numbers who have also received attributable pensions from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. However, the overall figure will be lower as the benefits can only be paid to those who are medically invalided.
	The new Armed Forces Compensation Scheme will provide benefits for currently serving personnel for injury, ill-health or death which is caused after 5 April 2005. The number of claims is expected to build up gradually over an extended period but to remain lower than the current level of claims against the War Pensions Scheme. This is because the latter covers periods of conscription, of worldwide conflict and of much larger than at present armed forces.

AWE Aldermaston

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the planned laser simulation facility at AWE Aldermaston.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence are considering a new laser facility (Project ORION) at AWE Aldermaston to replace the existing laser facility which is more than twenty years old. The project is currently in the Assessment Phase.

Beef

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage by weight of current beef supply contracts for his Department and its agencies are sourced from (a) British and (b) Scottish herds.

Adam Ingram: 46 per cent. of the beef and beef products purchased for consumption by the armed forces in the United Kingdom is British. Of that total, in the past 12 months, 70 per cent. came from Scottish herds.

Belgian Ammunition

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the rate of failure of large general purpose machine gun ammunition supplied by Belgium.

Adam Ingram: There was a problem reported on the Browning 0.5 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) when firing standard Ball (M33) and Tracer (M17) rounds on training overseas prior to Operation Telic. The ammunition was manufactured to NATO standards by the Belgian contractor FN Herstal. A thorough and immediate investigation by the contractor could not replicate the reported problem. However, it was identified that a minor increase in the loaded propellant charge, still within NATO specifications, would increase the performance of the ammunition in the weapon. This change was immediately implemented by FN Herstal, at no cost to the MOD, and the new ammunition was available within four weeks.

Defence Export Services Organisation

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of the Defence Export Services Organisation was in 200203; what his estimate is of the projected cost in each year to 200506; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Operating costs for Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) for the last and current financial years are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Net operating costs ( million) 
		
		
			 200203 11.944 
			 200304(4) 15.583 
		
	
	(4) Figures for 200304 are forecasts for the year.
	The DESO budgets for financial years 200405 and 200506 have not yet been finalised, and I am withholding projections of the costs in these years under exemption 2c of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	The costs of DESO are more than offset by benefits to the Defence budget arising from defence exports. Savings to the defence budget come from spreading the fixed overhead costs of equipment over the longer production runs generated by exports, from the sale of surplus military equipment to overseas governments, and from Commercial Exploitation Levy on exports of equipment developed using public money.

Eurofighter Typhoon

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many Eurofighter Typhoons have been delivered to No. 17 Squadron, Royal Air Force;
	(2)  how many Eurofighter Typhoons he plans to be delivered to No. 17 Squadron, Royal Air Force; when the squadron will receive the final aircraft of its intended complement; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: It is planned that four aircraft will be delivered to No. 17 Squadron, Royal Air Force. The final aircraft of its intended complement is expected to be received by April this year. To date, two have been delivered.

Eurofighter Typhoon

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to re-form No. 29 Squadron, Royal Air Force to conduct the first Eurofighter Typhoon pilot training course at RAF Coningsby; when the first Typhoon pilot training course will start; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Eurofighter Typhoon Operational Conversion Unit is currently being re-formed as 29 Squadron at the BAE System facility at Warton, Preston, Lancashire. Re-formation of 29 Squadron will be complete when it moves to RAF Coningsby next year. Present plans are for initial instructor pilots to commence training this summer.

Eurofighter Typhoon

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Eurofighter Typhoons delivered to No. 17 Squadron, Royal Air Force have refuelling probes fitted and ready for use; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Typhoons delivered to date do not have refuelling probes fitted. Early aircraft delivered without probes will be retro-fitted.

Iraq

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the requirement for Personal Role Radios in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: Personal Role Radio (PRR) is a short-range communications system designed to provide connectivity at the tactical level within small military teams, such as infantry sections. It is therefore ideal for use in Iraq and has been used extensively by UK forces since the commencement of operations. Approximately 3,500 Personal Role Radios are currently in use with British forces in Iraq.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many rounds were contained in the standard issue of ammunition to (a) infantry and (b) Royal Military Police in Iraq during (i) major hostilities and (ii) since the end of major war-fighting operations; whether this requirement has been met in every circumstance; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 12 February 2004
	The standard issue of 5.56mm ammunition provided to Army combat soldiers and other Army arms/services in Iraq has not changed from 150 rounds and 120 rounds respectively. Royal Military Police Personnel are normally issued with 120 rounds of ammunition in line with other Army arms/services. Commanders in theatre make an assessment based on local conditions as to whether adjustments to the planning allocations should be made. Over 23 million rounds of 5.56mm ammunition were delivered to Operation Telic, which was well in excess of the projected requirement of all units deployed.

Iraq

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average daily cost has been of the occupation of Iraq.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence identifies the costs of Operations in terms of the net additional costs it has incurred. The costs that the Department would have incurred regardless of the operation taking place, such as wages and salaries, are not included. Savings on activities that have not occurred because of the operationtraining exercises for exampleare taken into account in arriving at the net figures.
	Costs are not incurred on a regular daily basis and force levels have fluctuated considerably during 200304. As a result, to attempt to provide daily average costs would be misleading.
	However, you may wish to know that outturn information for 200203 on the cost of operations in Iraq has been published as part of the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts. Operating Costs for 200203 for operations in Iraq total 629.531 million. Expenditure on Capital equipment amounts to 217.680 million. The grand total is, therefore, 847.211 million.
	For 200304, funding voted at Winter Supplementary Estimates amounted to 1.2 billion and covered the cost of peacekeeping and associated Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs). The MOD has sought a further 300 million at Spring Supplementary Estimates to cover primarily the cost of the recuperation of the Department's operational capability. Thus, the total sought in 200304 will be 1.5 billion.
	It is too early to say what costs might be incurred after 200304.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which parts of the joint strike fighter aircraft are to be built in the UK.

Adam Ingram: Production contracts have not yet been negotiated for any part of the Joint Strike Fighter and are unlikely to be awarded before 2006 on current plans.
	Development work is currently under contract in the UK on a number of significant assemblies and aircraft systems, including the complete aft fuselage and tail assembly (BAES); engine components (Rolls Royce); ejection seat (Martin Baker) and electrical power, actuation and display systems (Smiths Aerospace). All work on JSF is won on a best value basis, and subject to continuing to meet best value criteria, there is every reason to anticipate that these development contracts will lead to follow-on production contracts.

Naval Vessels

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the disposal of Type 22 frigates to Romania has been concluded; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Government-to-Government Acquisition Agreement was signed on 19 December 2002, comprising the sale of two regenerated and updated warships (ex-HMS London and ex-HMS Coventry), an initial support package, and a training package for ships' complements. The agreement includes a significant offset programme to be carried out by British Industry, led by the United Kingdom Prime Project Contractor, BAE Systems, over a five-year period.
	The regeneration of the ships is proceeding satisfactorily, in accordance with the agreed schedule, and on track to achieve commissioning of the first ship, due in September 2004.

Naval Vessels

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the projected number of orders for naval vessels to be placed over the next 10 years.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is already undertaking a large programme of new ship procurement, including orders for six Type 45 destroyers, three Astute Class submarines and four Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary).
	Future plans include the purchase of two new aircraft carriers, further orders of Type 45 destroyers and Astute Class submarines, the Joint Casualty Treatment Ship, and the replacement of existing RFA vessels through the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability project. The Department is also considering options for leasing new Offshore Patrol Vessels to replace the current Castle Class capability. Tenders are currently being assessed for the Nato Submarine Rescue System, which will enter service in 2006.
	Looking further ahead, we expect to replace the capability provided by the Type 22 and 23 Frigates with the Future Surface Combatant. It is too early to say how the capability will be met or when orders will be placed because the project is still at the concept stage.

Operation Telic

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment was purchased under the Urgent Operational Requirement process for Operation Telic 1 and 2.

Adam Ingram: It is assumed that the period covered by Operation Telic 1 and 2 is from the time of deployment until the end of the first roulement of troops (November 2003). Information regarding specific Urgent Operational Requirements remains operationally sensitive and I am therefore withholding details of equipment purchased in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. However equipment procured using the UOR process falls into five broad areas:
	enhancements to communications equipment and infrastructure;
	upgrades to maritime, air (both fixed and rotary wing) and land platforms. These included improvements to environmental/desert operating capabilities, force protection, secure communications, combat ID and enhancements to associated weapons systems;
	improved dismounted close combat capabilities;
	improved logistics and deployable infrastructure (includes procurement of additional Temporary Deployable Accommodation); and
	NBC protection measures; and enhancements to deployed medical capabilities.

Operation Telic

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all requests for urgent operational requirements for Operation Telic stating (a) whether the request was approved, (b) the equipment requested, (c) the date the request was submitted, (d) the date the urgent operational requirement was approved and (e) the cost; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 27 January 2004
	Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) are requested via an Urgent Statement of User Requirement generated by frontline commands or operational planners. The content of these remains operationally sensitive and I am withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. However, approved UORs covering the deployment and fighting phases of Operation Telic fall into five broad capability areas with total approved values as follows:
	
		
			 Capability area  million 
		
		
			 1. Enhancements to communications equipment and infrastructure 56 
			 2. Upgrades to maritime, air (both fixed and rotary wing) and land platforms. These included improvements to environmental/desert operating capabilities, force protection, secure communications, combat identification and enhancements to associated weapons systems 270 
			 3. Improved dismounted close combat capabilities 36 
			 4. Improved logistics and deploy able infrastructure 58 
			 5. NBC protection measures; and enhancements to deployed medical capabilities 90 
		
	
	During the deployment and fighting phases of Operation Telic over 190 Urgent Operational Requirements were approved at a total approved cost of around 510 million. Since the end of major combat operations, a range of other UORs have been approved.

Overseas Bribery

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many allegations of overseas bribery his Department has received since (a) November 1997 and (b) February 2002;
	(2)  how many allegations of overseas bribery his Department has forwarded to the law enforcement agencies since (a) November 1997 and (b) February 2002; and if he will name the agencies to which allegations were forwarded, and give the dates concerned.

Adam Ingram: Since 1997 the Ministry of Defence has received 11 allegations of bribery occurring overseas of which six were received after February 2002. One case was passed to the Metropolitan police in October 1999 and another to the Brunei authorities in May 2002. Another four were investigated by the Department's Defence Fraud Analysis Unit, in some cases in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence Police authorities, at various dates between March 2000 and November 2002. Three were passed to the Royal Military Police in the period April 1999 to April 2003. One other case arising in July 2002 is being handled by the MOD Police on behalf of another government agency. An allegation passed to the Department by the Serious Fraud Office in March 2001 was the subject of an internal Departmental review.

Research and Development

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom his Department distributes expenditure on research and development; how many staff are employed as a result; and how many research establishments (a) the Department and (b) its agencies have in each region and nation of the United Kingdom.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence places contracts with a wide range of organisations including:
	The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSL), and the Meteorological Office, the two major MOD agencies which conduct research.
	The Medical Supplies Agency receives funding for development of Medical Countermeasures.
	Industry. Approximately 600 companies received payments against RD contracts in the eight months to end November 2003.
	Academia.
	The Meteorological Office is primarily located at its new site in Exeter with a residue still at the old Bracknell sites. Figures for 200102, the latest date for which there are published figures showed 330 employees, to the nearest 10, were employed in research.
	Dstl currently has research facilities in a number of areas in the UK. These are shown in the following table together with the number of staff employed in each region.
	
		
			 Region Number of employees 
		
		
			 Dorset  
			 Winfrith 103 
			   
			 Hampshire  
			 Alverstoke 110 
			 Farnborough 737 
			 Porton Down 875 
			 Portsdown 383 
			   
			 Kent  
			 Fort Halstead 639 
			   
			 Worcestershire  
			 Malvern 226 
		
	
	In addition to these there are a further 170 staff working in small numbers on a further 25 sites.
	Information about staff employed in industry and academia, as a result of MOD funding of research and development but not directly employed by the Department, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the suitability of current Royal Fleet Auxiliary oilers for future expeditionary warfare.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Fleet Auxiliary operates four classes of oilers (Wave, Leaf, Rover, and Fort Victoria). The two Wave class oilers (Wave Ruler and Wave Knight) entered service in 2003 and will remain operational until after 2025.
	The Leaf and Rover classes are due to reach their expected out of service dates by 2011. They are single-hulled and so will be non-compliant with revised Marpol (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) regulations on the introduction of double-hulled vessels. The newer Fort Victoria ships are also single-hulled but we are currently considering ways of maintaining compliance with international legislation beyond 2010. While Marpol does not apply to vessels owned or operated by a state and used only on Government non-commercial service, as is the case with the RFA oilers, it remains MOD policy to comply with Shipping Acts and associated regulations where practicable. Consequently, MOD has a programme to phase out all non-compliant RFA vessels with a target date of 2010 based on the earliest practicable point for compliance.
	As explained in my answer of 11 February 2004, Official Report, columns 145960W, the Department's programme, known as the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) programme, seeks progressively to replace most of the current RFA fleet, including Leaf, Rover, and Fort Victoria class oiler vessels. As part of this, these ships will be replaced by more flexible and capable vessels fully compliant with Marpol. This will significantly enhance the RFA's ability to provide the Royal Navy with its afloat support requirements.

Royal Navy

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on modernising the Royal Navy's chart and navigation system.

Adam Ingram: In January 2004 the Ministry of Defence announced that a contract had been awarded to Lockheed Martin UK Ltd. to fit Royal Navy ships with a new electronic charting system. The system, known as WECDIS (Warship Electronic Chart Display and Information System), will provide enhanced situational awareness to ensure RN navigating capability is more accurate, efficient and responsive.
	The programme is proceeding as planned and the first ship installation is scheduled to commence in June 2004.

Salisbury Plain (Unauthorised Use)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many drivers of private civilian (a) motorcycles and (b) four-by-four vehicles have been (i) intercepted, (ii) cautioned and (iii) prosecuted for unauthorised use of Salisbury Plain Training Estate in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: In 2003, 41 motorcycles and 52 four-by-four vehicles were intercepted by the Ministry of Defence Police. As a result, 27 drivers were warned off military lands under the byelaws and a further 33 drivers were prosecuted.

Typhoon

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money his Department has spent on developing the Typhoon's operational role to allow it to operate off the new aircraft carriers.

Adam Ingram: No money has been spent on developing the Typhoon's operational role to operate off the new aircraft carriers. As part of the Concept Phase for the Joint Combat Aircraft project, a feasibility contract was let with BAE Systems to identify broad order costs and design issues for a number of different solutions. This contract was valued at around 2 million. The study considered the potential for adapting Typhoon for carrier operations but showed that a significant amount of re-design and investment would be required to operate Typhoon from the future carriers. Joint Strike Fighter has been selected to meet this requirement.

TREASURY

British Overseas Territories

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with which British overseas dependent territories he has arrangements for the exchange of tax information; on what dates such arrangements were made; which team in his Department or in agencies for which his Department is responsible has the task of negotiating such arrangements; and with which British overseas dependent territories there are negotiations on tax information arrangements.

Dawn Primarolo: The UK has Double Taxation Arrangements with Guernsey (1952), Isle of Man (1955) and Jersey (1952) (all Crown Dependencies), and the Falkland Islands (1997) and Montserrat (1947) (both Overseas Territories) all of which include provisions for the exchange of information for tax purposes. The Inland Revenue's International team is responsible for negotiating arrangements that provide for exchange of information between tax authorities. They have had discussions about new or improved exchange of information arrangements with all of the UK's overseas dependent territories that are operating as offshore financial centres.

Child Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families are eligible to receive child benefit.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of families in receipt of Child Benefit are shown in Child Benefit Quarterly Statistics, which can be found on the Inland Revenue website at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/child benefit/menu.htm.
	Precise figures on the take up rate of child benefit are not available, but it is thought to be around 98 per cent.

Company Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost to public expenditure of each company tax credit for each year from 200304 to 200607; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The forecast costs for research and development tax credits, vaccines research relief and contaminated land tax credits are set out in the following table. The costs are on a receipts basis, showing when the costs are incurred by the Inland Revenue.
	
		 million
		
			  200304 200405 200506 200607 
		
		
			 Research and Development Tax Credits 660 670 700 760 
			 Vaccines Research Relief 10 20 20 20 
			 Contaminated Land Tax Credits 70 80 80 90 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 million.

Company Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each tax credit available to companies; what assessment he has made of the economic benefit in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Companies may be able to claim tax credits under the research and development tax credit schemes, vaccines research relief scheme or remediation of contaminated land scheme.
	The Government plan to evaluate all of the impacts of these policies. However, because the policies are intended to produce benefits over the medium to longer term, it would be inappropriate to do so at present.

Credit Cards

Iris Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the case for introducing interest-rate limits on credit cards.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are not yet persuaded of the benefits of introducing interest rate ceilings on any products. We are concerned that their introduction might cause detriment to consumers and competition, for example by encouraging imposition of additional fees and charges, that some lenders might exit the market denying some consumers access to credit, or that rates might gravitate towards the ceiling.
	We have, however, commissioned research on how interest rate caps operate in other countries. We expect to publish this research in the spring of this year, and will then make a decision on the case for introducing a ceiling.

Demography (North-West)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the population of (a) the North West and (b) Lancashire is over (i) 50, (ii) 55, (iii) 60, (iv) 65, (v) 75, (vi) 85 and (vii) 100 years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Hoyle, dated 2 March 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of the population of (a) the North West and (b) Lancashire is over (i) 50, (ii) 55, (iii) 60, (iv) 65, (v) 75, (vi) 85 and (vii) 100 years. I am replying in his absence.(157092)
	The information requested, except for those aged 100 and over, is given in the following table. This gives percentages based on the 2002 mid year population estimates, the latest year for which figures are available.
	
		Percentage of the population in older age groups in the North West and Lancashire
		
			 Age group North West Lancashire 
		
		
			 50 and over 33.9 35.2 
			 55 and over 27.3 28.4 
			 60 and over 21.1 21.9 
			 65 and over 16.0 16.7 
			 75 and over 7.4 7.9 
			 85 and over 1.0 2.0 
		
	
	Source:
	2002 mid year population estimates, Office for National Statistics
	We are not able to provide estimates for those aged 100 and over from mid year population estimates. Estimates of populations at very old ages using the standard methodology for population estimates (the cohort component method) are unreliable, especially for sub-national areas where numbers in these very old age groups may be very small.
	However this information is available from the 2001 Census. It recorded that under 0.02 per cent. of the population of both the North West and Lancashire were over 100 years of age.

Departmental Buildings/Costs

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list London buildings occupied by (a) Her Majesty's Treasury, (b) Customs and Excise, (c) the Inland Revenue and (d) other Treasury agencies and non-departmental public bodies; what the estimated value of each publicly owned building is; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested relating to buildings in London postal districts is given as follows:
	(a) Her Majesty's Treasury
	1 Horse Guards Road, SW1
	(b) Customs and Excise
	3 Griffin House, W6
	London City Airport, E16
	Berkeley House, N3
	Jubilee House, E15
	Portline House, E16
	Thomas Paine House, EC1
	Custom House, EC3
	GSS Garage, SE1
	Water Tower, SE18
	Parcelforce LDC, E16
	Dorset House, SE1
	Unit 2 Thames Road Industrial Estate, E16
	Towergate Car Park Pope Street, SE1
	Towergate 163 Tower Bridge Road, SE1
	Stratford Lift, E15
	Mount Pleasant Postal Depot, EC1
	Waterloo Terminal, SE1
	Willesden EPU, NW10
	Olympia Passenger Terminal
	Enterprise House, SE1
	New King's Beam House, SE1
	Swan Lane Car Park
	Stratford Car Park, E15
	(c) Inland Revenue
	Capitol House, N21
	Jubilee House, E15
	Euston Tower, NW1
	Clifton House, NW1
	New Century House, WC1
	Lyndhurst House, NW7
	Conquest House, WC1
	Colindale Station House, NW9
	Gateway House, N3
	Collingwood Business Centre, N19
	Surrey House, SE1
	Heron House, SE23
	Woolwich Crown Building, SE18
	Meridian House, SE10
	Lancaster House, SE1
	Radnor House, SW16
	Government Building, W3
	1929 Woburn Place,WC1
	Charles House, W14
	Solar House, SW20
	11 Belgrave Road, SW1
	Melbourne House, WC2
	Somerset House, WC2
	Bush House, SW Wing
	Duchy House, WC2
	22 Kingsway, WC2
	Bush House, NW Wing WC2
	Angel Court, SE1
	Haymarket House, SW1
	City Gate House, EC2
	Ibex House, EC3
	Empire House, E15
	610 Church Hill, E17
	Britannia House, SE1
	International House, W5
	31 High Street, W5
	Waterford House, SW6
	Candy House, W5
	Tavis House, WC1
	Dansom House, E17
	31 Scarborough Street, E1
	Steel House, SW12
	Tresco House, NW1
	Victory House, WC2
	53 Parliament Street, SW1
	Clifton House, NW1
	10 Great George Street, SW1
	(d) Other Treasury Agencies/Bodies
	Eastcheap Court, EC3
	Finlaison House, EC4
	1 Horse Guards Road, SW1
	Charles House, W14
	Trevelyan House, SW1
	New Court, WC2
	Cityside, E1
	Chase House, E14
	1 Francis Grove, SW19
	Lincoln House, SE1
	Wingate House, W1
	1 Drummond Gate, SW1
	1 Myddleton Street, EC1
	The only London building publicly owned and wholly occupied by my Departments is the Treasury building at 1 Horse Guards Road, which has an estimated value of 71.6 million. Other buildings are privately owned, or where forming part of the Government estate, are occupied by my departments on a shared, minor occupancy basis.

Departmental Buildings/Costs

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of Her Majesty's Treasury core departmental annual running costs for each year from 199697 to 200506; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Details of the Department's gross administrative expenditure for 199899 to 200506 are contained in Table 5.1 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2003 (Cm 5901). The figures are on a resource basis. Figures for 199697 to 200102 were published in Table 5.5 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 200001 (Cm 4601) but these are on a cash basis.

Departmental Buildings/Costs

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of running (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) Customs and Excise in each year from 199697 to 200506; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Details of the Departments' gross administrative expenditure for 199899 to 200506 are contained in Table 5.1 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2003 (Cm 5901). The figures are on a resource basis. Figures for 199697 to 200102 were published in Table 5.5 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 200001 (Cm 4601) but these are on a cash basis.
	Copies of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses are in the Library of the House and are on HM Treasury's public website (www.hm-treasury.x.gsi.gov.uk).

Economic Activity (Northampton)

Tony Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the economic activity rate in the Northampton South constituency was in (a) 200203 and (b) 199697.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Tony Clarke, dated 2 March 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the economic activity rate in the Northampton South constituency. I am replying in his absence. (157008)
	The table below shows the working age economic activity rates for the Northampton South constituency, covering the twelve-month periods ending February 1997 and February 2002. Information for 2002/03 is not yet available.
	
		Working age economic activity rates(5) in the Northampton South constituency
		
			 12 month period ending February each year Rates 
		
		
			 1997 85.5 
			 2002 84.4 
		
	
	(5) Economically active as a percentage of men aged 1664 and women aged 1659.
	As with any statistical sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey are subject to sampling variability.

Employment Statistics

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  by what rate employment grew on average annually in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the Republic of Ireland, (c) Denmark, (d) Sweden, (e) Finland, (f) Germany, (h) the Netherlands, (i) Belgium, (k) Luxembourg, (l) France, (m) Spain, (n) Portugal, (o) Italy, (p) Austria, (q) Greece, (r) the area now forming the euro-12, (s) the EU 15 and (t) the United States since (i) 1992 and (ii) 1997;
	(2)  by what rate employment grew in each year since 1992 in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the Republic of Ireland, (c) Denmark, (d) Sweden, (e) Finland, (f) Germany, (h) the Netherlands, (i) Belgium, (k) Luxembourg, (l) France, (m) Spain, (n) Portugal, (o) Italy, (p) Austria, (q) Greece, (r) the area now forming the euro-12, (s) the EU 15 and (t) the United States.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Richard Spring, dated 2 March 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your two recent Parliamentary Questions about average and annual employment growth rates for Europe and the USA. I am replying in his absence. (157180, 157181)
	The attached table provides growth rates for the number of people of working age in employment in the requested countries. The data (where available) are provided for all years since 1993, together with average annual growth rates a) from 1992 and b) from 1997.
	Demographic trends affect the size and the age profile of the working-age population, and are a significant driver of change in the number of people in employment. The data in the table do not take account of these effects.
	
		Annual and average employment growth rates for the UK and other countries, 19932003 -- Percentage
		
			  Annual employment growth rates 
			  1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 United Kingdom -1.3 0.7 1.1 1.0 1.7 1.0 1.2 
			 Ireland 1.3 4.3 4.4 3.9 6.3 8.1 6.3 
			 Denmark -1.5 1.4 1.3 1.0 1.3 1.6 1.2 
			 Sweden  -0.9 1.5 -0.8 -1.3 1.5 2.1 
			 Finland -6.0 -1.4 2.0 1.3 3.3 2.0 2.5 
			 Germany -1.4 -0.2 0.2 -0.3 -0.2 1.1 1.2 
			 Netherlands 0.0 0.7 1.5 2.3 3.2 2.6 2.6 
			 Belgium -0.7 -0.4 0.0 0.3 0.9 1.8 1.3 
			 Luxembourg 1.6 2.5 2.5 2.6 3.1 4.5 5.0 
			 France -1.3 0.1 0.9 0.4 0.4 1.5 2.0 
			 Spain -2.8 -0.5 1.9 1.3 2.9 3.9 3.5 
			 Portugal -1.2 0.6 -0.1 1.4 2.5 2.6 1.2 
			 Italy -2.5 -1.5 -0.1 0.6 0.4 1.0 1.1  
			 Austria -0.6 -0.1 0.0 -0.6 0.5 1.0 1.4 
			 Greece 0.8 -0.1 -0.4 -0.4 -0.5 4.1 0.0 
			 EU-12 -1.6 -0.3 0.6 0.5 0.9 1.8 1.8 
			 EU-15 -1.6 -0.1 0.7 0.6 1.0 1.7 1.7 
			 USA 1.5 2.3 1.5 1.5 2.3 1.5 1.5 
		
	
	
		
			   Annual employment growth rates  Average annualemployment growthrates 
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 From 1992 to date(6) From 1997 to date(6) 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 1.4 0.9 0.6 1.0 0.8 1.0 
			 Ireland 4.7 2.9 1.4  4.3 4.6 
			 Denmark 0.5 0.4 -0.6  0.7 0.6 
			 Sweden 2.4 1.9 0.2  0.7 1.6 
			 Finland 2.3 1.5 0.4  0.8 1.7 
			 Germany 1.8 0.4 -0.6  0.2 0.8 
			 Netherlands 2.2 1.8 0.9  1.8 2.0 
			 Belgium 1.9 1.4 -0.2  0.6 1.2 
			 Luxembourg 5.6 5.6 3.1  3.6 4.8 
			 France 2.6 1.8 0.6  0.9 1.7 
			 Spain 3.5 2.3 1.5  1.7 2.9 
			 Portugal 2.0 1.4 0.2  1.0 1.5 
			 Italy 1.9 1.9 1.4  0.4 1.5  
			 Austria 0.8 0.7 -0.4  0.3 0.7 
			 Greece -0.1 -0.4 -0.2  0.3 0.7 
			 EU-12 2.2 1.4 0.4  0.8 1.5 
			 EU-15 1.9 1.2 0.3  0.8 1.4 
			 USA 2.5 0.0 -0.3 0.9 1.4 1.0 
		
	
	(6) UK and US growth rates are average rates until 2003. EU rates are until 2002. All rates are average growth since 1992, except Sweden which is since 1993.
	Source: UKUK Labour Force Survey, Spring Quarters, Employed aged 16 and over
	EUEurostat New Cronos database, table: /theme3/employ/indic y, covering those employed aged 15 and over
	USUS Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey. Employed aged 16 and over

Inland Revenue

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue local tax offices there are; what their running costs were in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue has approximately 350 local Tax Offices. However many are located in multi-occupied buildings with other Revenue Offices. For example, a building might house a Tax Office but it could also house a Contact Centre, Tax Enquiry Point, Working Families Tax Credit Office etc. It would therefore require a disproportionate amount of effort to manually extract and disaggregate the running costs attributable to local Tax Offices.

Population Growth

Peter Lilley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the growth of the population up to 2031; what that estimate would be if there were no net immigration in future; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of expected population growth which is due to net immigration and dependants.

Ruth Kelly: The Government Actuary's latest (2002-based) principal population projection was published in December 2003. The Government Actuary also published a range of variant projections based on alternative assumptions in January 2004. The variant projections included a 'Natural Change' projection which assumes zero net migration in future. Relevant results from the principal projection and the natural change variant projection are summarised in the following table.
	
		Projected population change, United Kingdom 200231 -- Million
		
			  Principal projection Natural change variant projection 
		
		
			 Population at mid-2002 59.2 59.2 
			
			  Population change (200231) 
			 Natural change(7) 2.6 0.9 
			 Net migration 3.8  
			 Other changes(8) -0.8  
			 Total change 5.6 0.9 
			
			 Population at mid-2031 64.8 60.1 
		
	
	(7) Births less deaths.
	(8) The principal projection includes a downward adjustment for unattributable population change. Not migration and other changes are both assumed to be zero in the natural change variant projection.

Private Finance Initiative

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution was made to each of the figures in Table B5 of the pre-Budget report 2003 by Private Finance Initiative or associated schemes that have been accounted for on the balance sheet of the public sector client; and whether the data underlying Table B5 are updated when a particular Private Finance Initiative scheme subsequently moves on- or off-balance sheet to the public sector client.

Paul Boateng: The assumptions used for the spending projections underlying Table B5 are set out in paragraph B27 on page 208 of the pre-Budget report. Current and capital expenditure under PFI contracts is fully recorded in the expenditure rows of Table B5, and hence in the fiscal aggregates consistent with independently set accounting and reporting standards. Accordingly, these tables will fully reflect the balance sheet treatment of assets once this treatment has been determined.
	PFI contracts where the assets concerned are on departmental balance sheets are reported in departmental accounts, together with disclosure of information relating to any contracts assessed as off balance sheet.

Research and Development Tax Credits

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to publish claims from large companies for research and development tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: The research and development tax credit for large companies was introduced in April 2002. Claims are made as part of a company's corporation tax self assessment. Consequently, the first claims under this scheme have only just started to be received by the Inland Revenue.

Spirit Duty

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each bonded warehouse licensed by Customs and Excise which stocks spirits, including (a) geographic location and (b) gross volume turnover of spirits for each financial year since 1994.

John Healey: Customs and Excise approve warehouses to stock excise goods in duty-suspension. Quantities of spirits released for consumption in the UK, and UK production volumes, are published in Customs' Annual Report. Details of individual warehouses are not available; Exemptions 6 (Effective management of the economy and collection of tax) and 13 (Third party's commercial confidences) of the Open Government Code apply.
	The numbers of excise warehouses approved to stock alcoholic drinks which may include spirits, in each country of the United Kingdom are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Country Approved warehouses 
		
		
			 England 467 
			 Scotland 213 
			 Northern Ireland 32 
			 Wales 21 
		
	
	The more detailed data requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Taxation

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to public funds would be of reducing corporation tax to (a) 25 per cent. and (b) 20 per cent.

Dawn Primarolo: Reductions in the main rate of corporation tax of this magnitude would be likely to have indirect as well as direct effects on tax revenues. The Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs published with the pre-Budget report in December showed the direct effects of a one percentage point change in the main rate of corporation tax in April 2004 as 650 million in 200405 and 1,300 million in 200506.

Taxation

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to public funds would be of raising the threshold for inheritance tax to 1 million.

Dawn Primarolo: The PBR projection of inheritance tax yield is 2.8 billion for 20045. The full year cost of raising the inheritance tax threshold to 1 million in 20045 would be 2.5 billion.

Thalidomide Trust

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to announce the conclusion of his Department's discussions with the trustees of the Thalidomide Trust about the tax treatment of payments to the beneficiaries.

Dawn Primarolo: The tax affairs of the Thalidomide Trust are a matter for the Trust and the Inland Revenue. I can confirm that discussions between the Trust and officials of the Inland Revenue are currently taking place on a number of issues to ensure the Trust pays the correct amount of tax and the beneficiaries claim all the tax repayments and Tax Credits to which they are entitled. If the Trust wish to make an announcement about the outcome of those discussions then that is a matter for the trustees.

Thalidomide Trust

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on recent discussions with the trustees of the Thalidomide Trust.

Dawn Primarolo: I can confirm that discussions between the Thalidomide Trust and officials of the Inland Revenue are currently taking place on a number of issues to ensure the Trust pays the correct amount of tax and the beneficiaries claim all the tax repayments and Tax Credits to which they are entitled. However the tax affairs of the Thalidomide Trust are confidential and a matter for the Trust and the Inland Revenue. If the Trust wish to make a statement about those discussions then that is a matter for the trustees.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the results of efforts to reduce poppy cultivation in Afghanistan.

Bill Rammell: The UK Government has regular discussions with the Afghan Government, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and international partners about progress on measures to reduce opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. There are no immediate solutions and no single approach to address the variety of factors which influence farmers to grow poppy. The UK is supporting the Afghan Government in implementation of their national drug control strategy with 70 million committed over three years and a dedicated counter narcotics team in place in Kabul. We also co-hosted last month a counter narcotics conference in Kabul to increase Afghan and international awareness and engagement in tackling this problem.

Afghanistan

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the current security situation in Afghanistan.

Mike O'Brien: The security situation in Afghanistan remains fragile. The two lethal bomb attacks on Canadian and UK IS AF personnel in January in Kabul followed the killing of four German ISAF personnel in a similar attack in June 2003. Other attacks, such as the murder of a UN employee in November 2003 and the attack near Kandahar on 22 February in which an Australian pilot was killed and a British aid worker wounded, have targeted the international community and NGO operations outside the capital. Security in the south continues to cause concern, especially near the border with Pakistan, where extremist groups are operating. There have been fewer problems in the north, but long-standing tensions persist and these can flare up into violence.

Iraq

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the Iraq survey group.

Denis MacShane: The Iraq Survey Group is continuing to undertake investigations at sites throughout Iraq in its search for evidence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programmes. The Group is also engaged on translation of the huge volume of documents that it has collected, and is interviewing scientists and others who were previously employed on Iraq's weapons programmes.
	They will produce a further progress report in due course.

Iraq

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to establish who was responsible for forging documents relating to attempts by Iraq to obtain uranium from Niger.

Denis MacShane: We have repeatedly made clear that our assessment that Iraq sought to procure uranium from Africa was not based upon the documents submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency which subsequently were identified as forgeries. Since these documents did not have any bearing on our assessment, the Government has taken no steps to identify the forgers.

Iraq

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office what recent discussions he has had with the UN about its future involvement in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: We are in regular discussion with representatives of the United Nations, at ministerial and official level, concerning its involvement in the reconstruction of Iraq. We warmly welcome the Secretary-General's recent report on the future political process in Iraq and its proposals on UN involvement.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the senior members of the former Iraqi regime under Saddam Hussein detained by the Coalition Provisional Authority; how many are being held in Iraq; how many are being held outside Iraq; and at what locations.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 5 January 2004
	I have been asked to reply.
	The status of the 55 most wanted members of the former Iraqi regime may be found on the website of the US Central Military Command. The relevant website address is: www.centcom.mil/operations/Iraqi-freedom/55mostwanted.htm.
	All those in Coalition custody are currently held in Iraq at undisclosed locations.

Iraq

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by whom, and under what authority, the leaders of Saddam Hussein's regime will be brought to trial.

Bill Rammell: It is for the Iraqis to decide how to try senior members of the former regime. In December 2003, the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) established a Special Tribunal to fulfil such a task. The IGC are in the process of agreeing the rules and procedures of the Tribunal.

Gibraltar

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he will be taking to celebrate the three hundredth anniversary of British possession of Gibraltar.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Poole (Mr. Syms) earlier today.
	As my right hon. Friend, the Defence Secretary, said in this House on 27 November last year, we intend to play a full part in celebrating the warm relationship that we have enjoyed with the people of Gibraltar for the past 300 years. Units of HM Armed Forces will take part in a total of more than 20 events throughout the year. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is grateful to my noble Friend Baroness Symons for representing him at the Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration now taking place at St. Clement Danes. As he told the Chief Minister of Gibraltar earlier this month, he sends his very best wishes for the Service, and for this Tercentenary year.

Zimbabwe

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Chris Mullin: Our policy, and that of our EU partners, is to use targeted measures against Zimbabwe's leadership as a means of pressing it to return to democratic governance which respects human rights and the rule of law. We do not support economic or trade sanctions, as these would have a negative impact on all Zimbabweans. The EU measures are targeted on the ZANU(PF) leadership and on those who are responsible for human rights abuses and do not impact on ordinary Zimbabweans. On 19 February the EU agreed, by consensus, to continue with the targeted measures for another year and to extend from 79 to 95 the number of people on the travel ban and assets freeze.

Zimbabwe

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with Commonwealth governments about tightening sanctions against members of the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe.

Chris Mullin: There are no Commonwealth sanctions on Zimbabwe. The Commonwealth suspended Zimbabwe from its Councils in 2002. Commonwealth Heads of Government decided to continue the suspension when they met in Nigeria in December 2003. Following that decision Mugabe decided to withdraw Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth. The EU does have targeted measures against Zimbabwe consisting of a travel ban, assets freeze and arms embargo. On 19 February the EU decided to continue these measures for another year and to extend by 16 the number of people on the travel ban and assets freeze. The measures are now targeted on 95 people.

Zimbabwe

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken by Her Majesty's Government to assist in the restoration of freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe.

Jack Straw: The Government are providing practical and political support to civil society, human rights organisations and all those in Zimbabwe who want to see an early return to a democratically accountable government which respects human rights and the rule of law.
	We are providing humanitarian assistance to millions of Zimbabwean people on the basis of need.
	We are encouraging the South African government, and others in the region, to push for a return to democracy and freedom.
	We have been a consistent advocate of a robust international approach. In December, we argued successfully to maintain Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth. Mugabe has since withdrawn from the Commonwealth, demonstrating that he is now incapable of meeting the Harare principles which he helped to establish.
	This week, the EU extended sanctions against the Mugabe regime, rightly standing with the people of Zimbabwe, and against those responsibleMugabe and his governmentfor bringing a once prosperous and successful state to the edge of total collapse. The number of those caught by the sanctions now rises from 79 to 95. Those we have added to the list include several individuals who bear particular responsibility for the abuses of human rights in Zimbabwe.
	Zimbabwe's opposition party welcomed this move, saying it was a clear indication that the international community will not fold its arms while the regime in Zimbabwe continues to trample upon people's basic human rights.

Abdul Quader Khan

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of action taken to break up the network of Abdul Quader Khan since 18 December 1979.

Mike O'Brien: The intelligence community in the UK and in the US have been working on this network for several yearsthey identified it, monitored it, penetrated it, and finally took action against it with the result we have seen in recent weeks. We, the US Government and other Governments are now engaged in winding it up.

Northern Uganda

Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office what action he has taken following the recent massacre and ensuing violence in Northern Uganda.

Chris Mullin: This Government deplores the brutal massacre of around 200 innocent civilians in a camp for internally displaced persons in northern Uganda which took place on 21 February. We are also extremely concerned about the ensuing inter-ethnic violence in Lira and Gulu. We are urging the Government of Uganda and local religious and community leaders to restore calm.
	A UN Humanitarian Assessment Team is now in the Barlonyo area. Relief supplies have begun to be distributed to the survivors. Serious burns victims have been moved to Lira Hospital. The British High Commission and DFID remains in close contact with the United Nations and other agencies on the ground. UN assistance includes contributions from the UK.

Saddam Hussein

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office where Saddam Hussein is being held; and what legal procedures are to be taken against him.

Bill Rammell: Saddam Hussein is being held as a prisoner of war by the US in Iraq. It is coalition policy not to disclose the precise location of detainees for security reasons. It is for the Iraqis to decide what legal procedures should be taken against him. In December, the Iraqi Governing Council established a Special Tribunal to try senior members of the former regime. Iraqis are currently discussing the rules and procedures for this tribunal.

India/Pakistan

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the current state of the relationship between India and Pakistan.

Mike O'Brien: We warmly welcome the 18 February announcement that India and Pakistan have agreed an agenda and a timetable for substantive talks to commence after the Indian General Election. This consolidates the breakthrough announced by President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee in January, and shows the willingness of both countries to address each other's concerns through peaceful engagement. We appreciate that there will be no quick or easy solutions, but wish both governments well and hope that the talks will be sustained and, in due course, lead to the resolution of all their outstanding differences, including over Kashmir.

Antarctica

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visitors there were to Antarctica in each year since 1995; and what projections are available for future years.

Bill Rammell: The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has published the following figures on tourist visitors to Antarctica:
	
		
			 Antarctic austral season Number of visitors(estimated actual figures) 
		
		
			 199596 9,367 
			 199697 7,413 
			 199798 9,604 
			 199899 10,013 
			 19992000 13,826 
			 200001 12,248 
			 200102 11,588 
			 200203 13,571 
		
	
	These figures include ship and land-based passenger numbers. Commercial yacht activity is included from 199798, and 200203 figures include airborne passengers making landings.
	IAATO estimates that visitor numbers will increase to 20,818 for 200304 and 21,216 for 200405. However, the biggest growth in the tourist industry over the next decade is expected to be large ships and over-flights, which do not land passengers in Antarctica.

China

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the EU-People's Republic of China Dialogue.

Jack Straw: I welcome the recent round of the EU/China Human Rights Dialogue which took place in Dublin on 26/27 February. The bi-annual dialogue allows the EU to raise its human rights concerns regularly with China. In addition to the usual agenda on a wide range of human rights issues, the Presidency focused on China's ratification of the ICCPR. The Presidency also handed over a list of individual cases.

Colombia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits have been made to the areas of conflict in Colombia by UK diplomatic representatives in the past year.

Bill Rammell: Members of the diplomatic staff at our Embassy in Bogota travel around Colombia as widely and as frequently as they can within the constraints of local security conditions. In the past year, Embassy staff have carried out many visits outside of Bogot, including to a range of other cities in Colombia and where possible into areas where the effects of the conflict are greatest. In the latter category, areas visited include: Cucuta, Choco, San Vicente del Cagun, Arauca and Saravena, northern Cundinamarca (Pacho), Barrancabermeja, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Amazonas, La Guajira, Monteria (Cordoba) and Antioquia; all places which have seen serious conflict in recent months.

Diego Garcia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the current population of Diego Garcia are (a) US military personnel, (b) UK military personnel, (c) civilian workers and (d) detainees; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The current population on the island of Diego Garcia consists of:
	(a) approx 1,400 US military personnel
	(b) approx 40 UK military personnel
	(c) approx 1,800 civilian workers (mainly of Mauritian and Filipino nationality).
	There are no detainees in Diego Garcia or elsewhere in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Diego Garcia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with (a) the Chagos Refugee Association and (b) other groups on the possibility of return to Diego Garcia and the Chagos Islands of the original inhabitants and their descendants; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have held many discussions with representatives of the Chagos Refugees Group, and with other persons claiming to represent the views of the Chagossian community. In that context, a team of independent experts was commissioned in April 2000 to carry out a study of the feasibility of a return to the Chagos Islands. Their report on the second phase of their study was delivered in June 2002.
	In the meantime, various members of the Chagossian community, including the leaders of the Chagos Refugee Group, initiated legal proceedings against the Government in the High Court, raising, among other things, issues relating to such a return. Though the High Court has given summary judgement in favour of the Government in these proceedings, the claimants have applied for leave to appeal and their application is still pending. No final decision has been taken on the future of the feasibility study.

EU Constitution (Solidarity Clause)

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the Government's policy to support a solidarity clause in the constitutional treaty between EU member states in the event of attack.

Denis MacShane: The Government support the proposal to establish a solidarity clause, on the basis of the language for the draft Constitutional Treaty for the EU, presented by the Italian presidency to the Inter Governmental Conference in December.

Free Movement of Workers

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what transitional arrangements for the free movement of workers from relevant states among the countries acceding to the European Union have been put in place by (a) Ireland, (b) Denmark, (c) Sweden, (d) Finland, (e) Germany, (f) Austria, (g) the Netherlands, (h) Belgium, (i) Luxembourg, (j) France, (k) Spain, (l) Portugal, (m) Italy and (n) Greece; what transitional arrangements EU partners have indicated they will put in place; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: After Accession on 1 May, nationals from the ten new EU member states will be able to travel freely throughout the EU. However, except for nationals of Malta and Cyprus, they will not automatically be allowed to work in the existing member states. Those existing member states may, however, open their labour markets to nationals from the new member states if they so choose.
	(a) Ireland will open their labour markets to nationals from the new member states.
	(b) Denmark will open its labour market from 1 May, but has decided to impose a new administrative set-up with work and residence permits for new EU citizens. Citizens from the new member states will be able to stay in Denmark for a six month job-seeking period during which they will not be entitled to social benefit. This rule also applies to other EU citizens. A Work and Residence Permit will be granted for one year (as opposed to five year residence certificate for present EU member states' citizens) only if the person concerned has found a job and will be employed on the same pay and working conditions as those applying on the Danish labour market.
	(c) Sweden will open its labour market from 1 May, but the Swedish Government has signalled its intention to introduce transitional arrangements for workers from the new member states. It has yet to bring forward formal proposals.
	(d) Finland will impose a two-year transition period and existing controls on workers from eight of the ten new member states will apply. No restrictions will apply to citizens of Malta and Cyprus.
	(e) Germany will apply a transition period for two years, which may be extended to seven. Existing controls on workers from the relevant eight new member states will apply.
	(f) Austria will apply a transition period of at least two years. After that, it has indicated that it will follow Germany's lead.
	(g) The Netherlands is not imposing a transition period. The Dutch Cabinet agreed on 23 January to introduce a system of work permits for workers from new member states from 1 May. But this proposal was rejected by the Dutch Parliament on 9 February that asked for tougher measures. On 13 February the Dutch Government came forward with new proposals which will only allow workers from new member states to work in sectors where there is a shortage of available suitably qualified Dutch or EU nationals. The Centres for Work and Income (Job Centre Plus equivalent) will decide which sectors have such a shortfall. These regulations will be effective from 1 May 2004 to 1 May 2006. An evaluation of the system will take place before 1 May 2005 to see if these restrictions can be relaxed earlier.
	(h) Belgium will impose a transition period of at least two years.
	(i) Luxembourg will impose a transition period of at least two years.
	(j) France will impose a transition period of at least two years.
	(k) Spain will apply a transition period for two years. Depending on developments in the labour market, they may allow new member states citizens full rights to work before the end of the transition period. Spain has a bilateral agreement with Poland to allow a limited number of Poles to work in Spain.
	(l) Portugal has yet to decide whether it will open up its labour market to workers from the eight new member states.
	(m) Italy has yet to decide whether it will open up its labour market to workers from the eight new member states.
	(n) Greece is imposing a two year transition period.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made clear UK Government policy in this House on 23 February 2004, Official Report, columns 2325. The UK has decided to allow free movement of workers to those who genuinely want to come and work here. Genuine workers from the eight new member states will be allowed access to the UK labour market via a workers registration system. This will benefit the UK economy, expanding the range of skills and supply of workers available across the UK.
	Maltese and Cypriot nationals will be free to work anywhere in the EU.

Fund Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of expenditure on the (a) Drugs Assistance Fund, (b) Human Rights Fund and (c) Environment Fund for each year from 199697 to 200506; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) expenditure on these programmes is shown in the following table:
	
		 million
		
			  199697 199798 199899 19992000(9) 200001 200102 200203 200304(10) 200405(11) 200506(11) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) Drugs Assistance Fund(12) 0.9 4.4 5.9 6.0 6.0 7.3 10.0 9.4 9.4 9.4 
			 (b) Human Rights Fund(13)   5.0 5.1 6.0 6.6 7.4 11.1 10.5 14.5 
			 (c) Environment Fund(14)   0.6 0.9 2.5 2.9 3.0 4.8 4.2 6.3 
		
	
	(9) Outturn
	(10) Budget
	(11) Plan
	(12) FCO programme activity in support of drugs objectives includes the former Drugs Assistance and Drugs Programme Fund, now (since 200102) the Drugs and Crime Fund.
	(13) The Human Rights Project Fund was started in 199899 but was subsumed into the new Global Opportunities Fund (GOF) in 200304. Figures from that year onwards include Human Rights Programme activity under several strands of the GOF e.g. Engaging with the Islamic World, Re-Uniting Europe and Strengthening Relationships with Emerging Markets, but not human rights activity across all FCO programme budgets.
	(14) The Environment Project Fund (EPF) was started in 199899 but was subsumed into the new GOF in 200304. The figures from that year onwards include estimated expenditure on the environment across all FCO programmes, not just the former EPF.
	Note:
	The figures for 200405 and 200506 indicate current spending plans. All future resource allocations may be subject to review in the light of changing foreign policy priorities. 200506 spending plans will be covered by the 2004 Spending Review.

Haiti

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Haiti.

Bill Rammell: The UK welcomes the constitutional succession and political process now underway in Haiti in order to promote a peaceful and lasting solution to the current crisis.
	The UK welcomes the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1529 which authorises the deployment of a multi-national Interim Force to Haiti and declares the Security Council's readiness, within three months, to establish and deploy a UN stabilisation force that will support the continuation of a peaceful and constitutional political process.

Hong Kong

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether China has informed him of plans to change the legal system in Hong Kong.

Bill Rammell: We are not aware of any plans to change the legal system in Hong Kong. The Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 provided for the maintenance of the existing legal system in Hong Kong after the handover in 1997. The Joint Declaration also provides that the legal system in Hong Kong should be autonomous from the legal system of mainland China and should be vested with independent judicial power. This should remain unchanged until at least 2047.

India and Pakistan

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the state of the relationship between India and Pakistan.

Mike O'Brien: We warmly welcome the recent announcement by India and Pakistan that they have agreed an agenda and a timetable for substantive talks, due to begin after the Indian General Election. Following the breakthrough in relations announced by President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee at the start of January, this agreement demonstrates the commitment of both countries to address each other's concerns. We support both governments in their efforts, recognising that the talks will be the start of a long and difficult process and hope that they will, in due course, lead to the resolution of all their outstanding differences, including over Kashmir.

Interception of Communications

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is empowered to authorise the interception of communications where that communication begins and terminates outside UK territory.

Jack Straw: I refer the hon. Member to Sections 5, 7 and 8 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Iran

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iranian Government about pluralist democratic procedures in their recent national election.

Bill Rammell: In his contacts with Iranian leaders, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear our support for Iran's efforts to reform. The flawed parliamentary elections held on 20 February were a setback for Iran's democratic development. On 23 February, EU Foreign Ministers expressed their deep regret and disappointment that large numbers of candidates, including many sitting deputies, had been prevented from standing, thus making a genuine democratic choice by the Iranian people impossible. For elections in any country to be regarded as free and fair, electors must have a chance to vote for candidates with a range of views.

Iran

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to prevent the flow of Shia Muslims from Iran into Southern Iraq.

Bill Rammell: We are monitoring the border situation closely, and have been in contact with all Iraq's neighbours, including Iran, to urge them to take steps to ensure better border security. Within Iraq, Coalition forces have been conducting operations aimed at monitoring and reducing illegal cross-border traffic. In the long-term, we are working hard to train all Iraqi security forces, including those with responsibility for border security.

Israel

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the stance of the Government at the International Court of Justice with regard to the reference of the Israeli security fence.

Bill Rammell: The Government believe that the building of a wall on Palestinian territory is unlawful but that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) should exercise its discretion not to give an opinion on this matter on the grounds:
	that an opinion is not needed by the UN and could hinder the peace process;
	that it involves essentially a bilateral dispute, one of the parties to which has not consented to the ICJ's jurisdiction;
	and that it would involve the determination of issues of fact, on which the necessary evidence is not before the Court.
	A copy of the UK's written statement to the ICJ to this effect has been placed in the Library of the House.

Katharine Gun

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Attorney-General concerning the case of Katharine Gun before the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to offer any evidence against her.

Jack Straw: Because I have statutory responsibility for GCHQ, I spoke with the Attorney General by telephone on 14 February and at a meeting on 24 February about the Gun case. The purpose on both occasions was to learn about the position of the prosecuting authorities relating to the continuation of the prosecution. I took no part in the decisions relating to discontinuation of the prosecution.
	I was earlier consulted by the Attorney General, in accordance with the Shawcross procedure, about public interest issues relating to the case, before he took the decision to initiate the prosecution.

Kuwait

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the policy of the Government to continue (a) the approval of new claims in Kuwait and (b) the payment and settlement of claims in Kuwait under the UN Compensation Commission.

Bill Rammell: The UK Government support the UN Compensation Commission's (UNCC) approval of Kuwait's submission of certain new claims relating to the 605 detainees held in Iraq following the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and who are now believed to be dead.
	The Government support the completion of the UNCC's claims processing work for all claimant states, including Kuwait, and for the payment of approved awards, to the extent that it has funds available to do so.

Libya

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on developing British relations with Libya.

Bill Rammell: Libya's announcement, on 19 December 2003, that it would dismantle its Weapons of Mass Destruction programmes opened the way to Libya's reintegration into the international community.
	The visit of the Libyan Foreign Minister, Abdul Rahman Shalgam, to the UK from 9 to 10 February was tangible proof of the improving relations between Libya and the UK. Discussions covered a broad range of bilateral and regional issues.
	The UK and Libya will now seek to build on these contacts to develop further our political, cultural and commercial ties, helping Libya in its aim of restructuring its economy and co-operating in tackling terrorism.
	The Government will continue to seek progress on the difficulties that remain between the United Kingdom and Libya. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had an assurance from Foreign Minister Shalgam that Libya stands by the commitments it has given on the Lockerbie bombing and on the investigation into the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher.

Non-military Overseas Sites

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the overseas sites which are owned by the Government for non-military purposes; and if he will make a statement on the Government's disposals policy for them.

Bill Rammell: The National Asset Register lists overseas properties (over a book value of 3,000) owned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. All such assets are held for diplomatic use. The latest edition of the register, published in July 2001 (Cm5221), can be found at: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/mediastore/otherfiles/218.pdf
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has an on-going programme of estate modernisation. Under an agreement with the Treasury, land or buildings that are surplus, not operationally effective or not providing value for money, are sold and the proceeds are then reinvested.

North Korea

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote cultural and sporting exchanges between the United Kingdom and North Korea.

Bill Rammell: We are not specifically promoting any cultural or sporting events between the UK and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

North Korea

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the (a) size and (b) value of heroin exports from North Korea in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: There is no evidence that heroin has been trafficked through North Korea to the UK in significant quantities during the period in question.

North Korea

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the UNHCR in Geneva and (b) his counterparts in the European Union about possible visits by international inspection teams to assess prison conditions in North Korea.

Bill Rammell: UNHCR's responsibility is for the welfare of refugees and, as such, it has no mandate to inspect prisons in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
	In the EU, the issue has been discussed by member states regularly. The resolution on DPRK at the UN Commission on Human Rights in 2003, tabled by the EU, included a specific request for the North Korean authorities to allow inspection visits by international independent monitors.

North Korea

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the size of the prison population in North Korea.

Bill Rammell: The US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, in a report dated October 2003, estimated the prison population of North Korea to be around two hundred thousand.
	We have no access to any more accurate and reliable figures.

North Korea

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the nature and extent of the United Kingdom's diplomatic ties with North Korea are.

Bill Rammell: The UK and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) established full diplomatic relations on 12 December 2000. The British Embassy in Pyongyang was established in July 2001, and the DPRK Embassy in London was established in November 2002.
	Through both Embassies we ensure that we take regular opportunities to emphasise to the DPRK authorities our strong concerns on human rights and on the nuclear issue. We make clear that the scope of our co-operation with the DPRK will remain severely limited until progress is made on meeting these concerns.

North Korea

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of per capita income in (a) North Korea and (b) South Korea in 2004.

Bill Rammell: South Korea's average income per capita in 2002 (latest year for which actual figures are available) was US$9,979. This year, the figure is expected to reach around US$12,000, owing to economic growth and appreciation of the Korean won against the US dollar.
	The North Korean government does not publish economic statistics. Reliable figures for per capita incomes are therefore unavailable. However, the Bank of Korea (South Korea's central bank) estimate average per capita incomes in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 2002 was US$760. The figure is unlikely to have changed significantly since then.

North Korea

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of trade sanctions by the United States on the economy of North Korea.

Bill Rammell: The US lifted trade sanctions on North Korea in 2000, although US exports of arms and certain products with possible military use remain banned. Despite the lifting of sanctions, trade flows are smallIMF figures for 2002 show the US exporting only US$25 million worth of goods to North Korea in 2002 and importing less than US$l million.

North Korea

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the incidence of (a) infanticide and (b) torture in prisons in North Korea.

Bill Rammell: We are appalled by the reports of infanticide, torture and other inhumane treatment carried out in North Korean prisons. We have expressed our concerns regularly to the North Korean government at both ministerial and official levels, and have called for access by international monitors to verify the conditions in North Korean prisons. I recently called in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Ambassador to register my strong concerns.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department since 1 January 2003, broken down by (a) ordinary written and (b) named day; what percentage in respect of (a) were answered within 10 working days; and what percentage in respect of (b) were answered by the specified date.

Jack Straw: As of 27 February 2004, 3,668 written parliamentary questions (PQs) had been tabled to my Department since 1 January 2003, of which 3031 were for ordinary written answer and 637 for answer on named day.
	Since 1 January 2003, 94 per cent. of ordinary written PQs have been answered within 10 working days and 74 per cent. of named day PQs answered on time.

Russia

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Russian Foreign Minister about EU enlargement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary maintains regular dialogue with his Russian counterpart on a range of issues, including EU enlargement and EU/Russia relations.

Scholarships

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of Foreign Office scholarships for each year from 199697 to 200506 (planned); what value for money assessment has been made of the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: Annual costs of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) scholarships during the period are:
	
		
			  Number of scholars Cost ( million) 
		
		
			 199697 2,198 34 
			 199798 2,259 36 
			 199899 2,196 39 
			 19992000 2,300 40 
			 200001 2,470 45 
			 200102 2,510 46 
			 200203 2,568 48 
			 200304 (15)2,487 (16)49 
			 200405 n/k (16)49 
			 200506 n/k (16)49 
		
	
	(15) estimated
	(16) planned
	n/k = not known
	FCO scholarships include Chevening Scholarships, Marshall Scholarships, Atlantic Fellowships and the FCO contribution to the UK input into the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.
	An external review of FCO scholarships in 2003 examined value for money issues and recommended some reprioritisation within the Chevening scholarships scheme in particular. I will place a copy in the Library of the House.

Surveillance

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests have been made to the US authorities to undertake (a) interception of communications and (b) surveillance of (i) hon. Members and (ii) other UK citizens where such activity would require express authorisation from a senior Minister in the UK were it to be carried out by UK authorities.

Jack Straw: It is the well established and long standing practice of successive Governments not to comment on operations of the Intelligence Services.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Council Tax

Paul Truswell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list by type of authority (a) the Band D council tax level set by each local authority for 200405, excluding precepts, (b) the percentage change of (a) from 200304, (c) the precept set by the authority's relevant Fire and Civil Defence Authority for 200405, (d) the percentage annual change represented by (c), (e) the precept set by the relevant police authority for 200405, (f) the percentage annual change represented by (e), (g) the sum total of (a), (c) and (e) and (h) the percentage change of (g) compared to 200304.

Nick Raynsford: Precepting authorities have until 1 March to set their council taxes for 200405, and billing authorities have until 11 March. The requested information will be published after all local authorities have set their council taxes and notified their figures to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Council Tax

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total grant received from his Department is in Durham to compensate for loss in revenue from council tax consequent on student exemption from council tax.

Nick Raynsford: There is no separate grant in respect of council tax revenue foregone through student exemptions.
	The main central Government support for spending by the City of Durham is through redistributed business rates and Revenue Support Grant, together known as Formula Grant. The amount of Formula Grant for Durham City depends on Durham's Formula Spending Share, Durham's share of the assumed national council tax, Durham's council tax base, and the operation of the floor and ceiling damping mechanism. Where there are student exemptions this will reduce the council tax base and so result in additional Revenue Support Grant.

Departmental Advertising

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much (a) his Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department spent on (i) advertising and (ii) information campaigns in each year since 200102.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002.
	In the financial year 200203 the office spent 3,346,943 on advertising and 3,718,767 on information campaigns.
	In the financial year 200304 the Office spent 3,411,000 on advertising and 6,882,000 on information campaigns.
	In both years the majority of the spend was on Fire Safety campaign (93 per cent.).
	Figures for each agency and non-departmental bodies are not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportional cost.

Fire Sprinklers

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sprinkler systems in tackling fires in residential properties.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister commissioned, in April 2001, an extensive research project with the Building Research Establishment (BRE) to consider fully the effectiveness of residential sprinklers. BRE published their research last month and a summary document of the work can be found on the Building Regulations section of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's websitewww.odpm.gov.uk
	The findings of the research indicate that residential sprinklers would appear to be generally effective in controlling fires. However, the work did show that in the case of some slow burning and shielded fires people could still eventually be overcome by smoke inhalation. The research also found that it would not be cost effective to require the universal installation of sprinklers in all residential premises. However, the research concluded that in some types of premises, typically those where the occupants are considered to be the most vulnerable to fire, further consideration is warranted. These premises include residential care homes, high-rise houses and flats and higher risk houses in multiple occupation.
	As part of our current review of the fire safety aspects of the building regulations we will be considering the findings of the BRE research to see if there is a case for introducing amendments that enable us to target the provision of sprinklers in those new and altered premises where the people are considered to be most vulnerable.

Green Belt

Graham Brady: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) area in hectares and (b) percentage of green belt land within Metropolitan authorities has been removed from green belt designation since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Statistics on the extent of green belt in England were last published in 2000, based on area of green belt contained in local development plan maps existing in 1997. Officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are currently investigating the extent of designated green belt changes for authorities that have adopted new development plans since 1997. These updated statistics on green belt will be published shortly. I will write to the hon. Member when the information is available.

Regional Planning Guidance

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish the new Regional Planning Guidance for East of England (RPG14).

Keith Hill: The East of England Regional Assembly plan to submit Draft RPG 14 in Autumn 2004; this will be followed by a period of consultation and a formal Examination in Public. The Government expects to publish the final version as a Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England (RSS14) in summer 2006. Regional Planning Guidance documents will become Regional Spatial Strategies on commencement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act currently before Parliament.

Thames Gateway

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report, column 744W, on the Thames Gateway, by when the Gateway delivery office will be operational.

Keith Hill: A new Thames Gateway directorate has been established in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, responsible for securing delivery of the Government's agenda for the Gateway. The Thames Gateway Delivery Unit will be established as part of the new directorate with premises in the Thames Gateway in April 2004.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Voter Registration

Mark Tami: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what steps the Electoral Commission is taking to increase levels of voter registration.

Peter Viggers: The Commission undertakes national public awareness campaigns, including campaigns targeted at specific groups such as students and home-movers. It also provides support to local authority elections staff in the form of advice and best practice guidance on both the local promotion of electoral registration and the application of new legislation in this area.
	The Commission is also undertaking research that will provide a better understanding of the extent and nature of under-registration, together with an assessment of the operation and impact of 'rolling registration' on levels of registration.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Alcohol Licences

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what plans she has to tackle anti-social behaviour near premises with licences to sell alcohol;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with local councils on increasing the responsibility of landlords with alcohol licences for excessive consumption of alcohol and associated public disorder problems;
	(3)  what plans she has to attach conditions to licences for (a) public houses and (b) other drinking establishments.

Richard Caborn: The responsibility for attaching conditions to liquor licences under current law rests with the licensing justices.Under the Licensing Act 2003, which received Royal Assent on 10 July 2003, this responsibility will be transferred to licensing authorities which, in the main, are local authorities. There are two mandatory conditions in the 2003 Act, which will be attached in all cases where a premises licence authorises the supply of alcohol. The first is that no supply of alcohol may be made at a time when there is no designated premises supervisor in respect of the premises or at a time when the premises supervisor does not hold a personal licence or it is suspended. The second is that every supply of alcohol under the premises licence must be made or authorised by a person who holds a personal licence.
	The 2003 Act provides further mechanisms to promote the prevention of nuisance and crime and disorder. The Act introduces the review of licences. Interested parties and responsible authorities will be able to request that a review of a premises licence occurs on a ground which is relevant to one or more of the licensing objectives (the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, the protection of children from harm and public safety). The review may lead to modifications of the conditions on the licence, the exclusion of certain licensable activities from the licence, the removal of the premises supervisor, or the suspension or revocation of the licence.
	In addition, the 2003 Act provides powers for a magistrates court in a particular area to make an order requiring premises at or near a place of disorder, or expected disorder, to be closed for a period not exceeding 24 hours.
	In addition a particular premises may be closed if a senior police officer reasonably believes there is, or is likely imminently to be, disorder on, or in the vicinity, of the premises and the closure is necessary for public safety, or alternatively if a public nuisance is being caused by noise coming from the premises and closure is necessary to prevent the nuisance. These closure orders can be for up to 24 hours and may be extended in certain situations. These powers will also be applicable to temporary events held under temporary event notices.
	In addition to these provisions, the 2003 Act contains offences such as the sale of alcohol to a person who is drunk or obtaining alcohol for a person who is drunk. Before the licensing Bill was introduced, during its passage through Parliament and since Royal Assent, we have engaged in extensive and detailed consultation with the Local Government Association, the Association of London Government and the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services about the provisions of the new legislation and its implementation.

Crystal Palace

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the progress of negotiations regarding the future of Crystal Palace sports facilities; and what role the Government have played in the negotiations.

Richard Caborn: As the hon. Member for Bromsgrove may be aware, it was announced on 25 February that Sport England, the Greater London Authority and the London borough of Bromley have between them secured the future of the National Sports Centre. Details of the re-development, and its timing, are yet to be finalised.
	Sport England's lease will continue for a further two years. After that, the London Development Agency will take responsibility for the site. This will ensure that the Crystal Palace Grand Prixthe last major athletics event before the Athens Olympicswill take place this summer.
	It has been agreed that Sport England, the Greater London Authority/London Development Agency and the London borough of Bromley will each pay one third of the maintenance costs for the first year of the agreement. After that, the London Development Agency will be solely responsible. This will be the starting point for the modernisation of the whole of Crystal Palace Park.
	The Government have remained close to all partners throughout discussions.

Departmental Budget

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the updated figures for her Department's budget for the next five years will be published.

Richard Caborn: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 129W.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Annual Report 2004 is expected to be published in April 2004. All data will be subject to revision following the outcome of the Spending Review 2004, due in the autumn, at which time budgets for 200607 will be agreed.

Departmental Christmas Card

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost was of producing her Department's Christmas card last year.

Richard Caborn: The cost of the production of the DCMS Christmas card for 2003 was 1,587.50.

Departmental Christmas Card

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Christmas cards were sent by her Department last Christmas.

Richard Caborn: There were 3,798 Christmas cards sent out from DCMS in 2003.

Digital Television

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the purchases necessary to receive digital television in different areas of the United Kingdom.

Estelle Morris: holding answer 1 March 2004
	There are four ways consumers can receive digital television today:
	(a) Terrestrially
	Consumers need to buy either a digital adapter (set top box) or an integrated digital television. While many people will be able to use their existing aerials, some may need to have new aerials or cabling installed to receive all services. Digital terrestrial television is now receivable in around 75 per cent. of the UK.
	(b) Through Satellite
	Consumers need to get either a digital satellite adaptor and connect it to their existing analogue TV set or a digital TV set designed to receive digital satellite signals. They will also need a dish installed outside their home. Digital satellite signals reach the vast majority of UK homes, but in a few cases reception may not be possible, because the line of sight to the satellite is obstructed, or because planning or property regulations do not permit householders to put up a dish.
	(c) Through Cable
	Consumers need a set top box provided and installed by the operator of the cable network which serves their home, if they live in a cabled area. (d) Through Broadband DSL
	A fourth digital platform is emerging through use of digital subscriber line technologies based on telephony network cabling. Today, this service is only available in Kingston upon Hull, and London.
	More information is available on www. digitaltelevision.gov.uk.

Digital Television

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what efforts her Department is making to ensure that all households that desire it have access to digital television prior to the analogue signal being switched off.

Estelle Morris: holding answer 1 March 2004
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working with stakeholders, within the Digital Television Action Plan, to ensure that everyone who can currently get the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form (BBC 1 and 2, ITV, Channel 4/S4C and Channel 5) will be able to receive them on digital systems. However, this might not be possible before switchover for a small minority of consumers. Though Digital satellite signals reach the vast majority of UK homes, in a few cases reception or installation of the necessary dish may not be possible, either for topographic or legal reasons. We are reviewing these legal constraints to ensure they are minimal and proportionate. Any further extension of the digital cable networks is a commercial matter for the operators. As for terrestrial reception, it is not possible to extend it before switchover, as signals currently have to be transmitted at low power to prevent interferences with UK and foreign analogue signals. Only switchover will allow digital terrestrial television to reach the same level of coverage as analogue.

Digital Television

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of (a) analogue and (b) digital television sets bought in the last five years in the United Kingdom.

Estelle Morris: The department holds figures for television sales in the UK up to December 2003 for the last four years only. These figures are:
	
		
			  Number (Thousand) 
		
		
			 (a) Analogue TV sets 18,775.8 
			 (b) Digital television sets 395.9 
		
	
	These figures do not include sales of set top boxes, which allow viewers to receive digital television through analogue sets. They also do not include TV/VCR and TV/DVD combination sets.

Mobile Phones

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many departmental mobile phones are used by her Department; and what the total cost of calls was in the last five years.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport currently has 70 departmental mobile phones. The cost to the Department of mobile phones supplied to Ministers and officials was 25,500 in 200001, 21,000 in 200102, 29,000 in 200203 and 35,000 as of the end of February this year. It is not possible to provide figures prior to 2000 save at disproportionate cost.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Parliamentary Questions have been tabled to her Department since 1 January 2003, broken down by (a) ordinary written and (b) named day; what percentage in respect of (a) were answered within 10 working days; and what percentage in respect of (b) were answered by the specified date.

Richard Caborn: Ministerial colleagues and officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport attach great importance to answering parliamentary questions accurately and to time. We aim to ensure that all Members receive a substantive response to an ordinary written question within a working week of it being tabled and that named day questions are answered on the specified date.
	1,532 House of Commons written Parliamentary Questions were tabled to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for answer between 1 January 2003 and 26 February 2004. This figure excludes those questions either withdrawn by the Member or transferred to another Department.
	1,356 ordinary written questions were answered during this period. Of these 1,131 (83.4 per cent.) were answered within 10 working days.
	176 named day questions were answered during this period. Of these 105 (59.6 per cent.) were answered on the specified date or named day.

Performance Targets

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she will measure her Department's performance in reaching its Public Sector Agreement target to increase by eight per cent. the number of adult C2DE visitors to national museums and galleries.

Estelle Morris: Progress against the target is measured by using the results of periodic surveys carried out by each museum and gallery. These record the number of C2DEs visiting the museum. Progress is reported to the Department half-yearly and annually. The results are aggregated to measure progress against the PSA target.

School Sport

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she will measure her Department's performance against the Public Sector Agreement target to increase the percentage of school children who spend a minimum of two hours per week on high quality physical education and school sport to 75 per cent. by 2006.

Richard Caborn: As I indicated in my written answer of 5 January 2004, Official Report, columns 13738W, to the hon. Member for Bromsgrove, data are now being collected for the first timefor publication in Aprilon the number of pupils who choose to take up the entitlement to two hours of high-quality PE and school sport each week within and beyond the curriculum. This exercise will be repeated in future years so that performance against the PSA target can be assessed.

Sports Funding

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been given to (a) football and (b) cricket in (i) the north-west, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) Chorley in each of the last three years; and for what purposes.

Richard Caborn: Details of Lottery support from Sport England for football and Cricket from the following programmes: Community Capital, Active Community Development Fund, Safer Sports Grounds, Football Youth Development and Awards For All are as follows.
	
		
			   Football  Cricket 
			  200001 200102 200203 Total 200001 200102 200203 Total 
		
		
			 Awards in Chorley (Number) 1 4 2 9 2 1 1 7 
			 Total Sum for Chorley () 4,789 15,272 6,700 35,165 5,935 4,198 4,954 25,879 
			 Awards in Lancashire (Number) 44 39 60 143 30 34 40 107 
			 Total Sum for Lancashire () 852,448 869,748 275,737 1,997,933 137,702 317,323 164,937 619,962 
			 Awards in North West region (Number) 103 74 131 308 68 68 79 218 
			 Total Sum for North West region () 1,360,352 4,776,147 1,506,483 7,642,982 1,479,590 1,367,864 822,892 3,670,346 
		
	
	Note:
	Lancashire figures do not include schemes in Greater Manchester.

Sunbeds

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public leisure facilities are equipped with sunbeds; what her Department's policy is on the provision of sunbeds in public leisure facilities; and what plans she has to phase out the use of sunbeds in public leisure facilities.

Richard Caborn: There are 2,945 Public Sports Centres in England, 935 of which contain one or more sunbed.
	As I am sure the hon. Member will appreciate, any decision to provide sunbeds in public leisure facilities will be for the individual local authorities to make. However, the Government acknowledge the risks to young people of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in all of its forms and the Health and Safety Executive has published guidance for operators and customers on using sunbeds. This guidance was developed after consultation with leading experts and is accepted as good advice.
	The hon. Member may be interested to know that the potential dangers involved in the use of sunbeds will be the subject of a meeting of experts and industry on 29 March 2004. The campaign will review the latest scientific evidence and develop practical recommendations for better self-regulation.

Tourism

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people she estimates work in tourism in (a) the north-west, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley; and how many people are employed in hotels in each case.

Richard Caborn: Research carried out by the North West Development Agency's Regional Intelligence Unit estimates that the number of people working in tourism in (a) the north-west is 193,871, (b) Lancashire is 47,828 and (c) Chorley is 3,839. It has not been possible to estimate the number of people employed in hotels but the North West Tourist Board estimates that 90 per cent. of tourism employees in each case work in the accommodation sector.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Ballast Plc

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the liquidation of Ballast plc, Salford Quays, on the value of the final salary occupational pensions of its former employees.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are aware of the situation of the former employees of Ballast plc, but has not made an assessment of the effect the liquidation has had on their occupational pensions. However, we have great sympathy for the uncertainties they, and other people in similar circumstances, are facing in regard to their pensions.

Ballast Plc

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make representations to the authorities in the Netherlands about the protection of the assets of the occupational pension schemes of former employees of the Dutch construction group Ballast Nedam NV and its liquidated UK subsidiary Ballast plc.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government recognise the concerns that have been expressed about the financial responsibilities of parent companies and sympathises with the position of all members of pension schemes that may not receive the pension that they expected as a result of employer insolvency. However, the legal obligation to fund a salary-related occupational scheme is with the sponsoring employer of the scheme. The holding company is not responsible for the debts of an insolvent subsidiary because the two companies have separate legal identities. Any political intervention would, therefore, be inappropriate in this case.

Council Tax Benefit

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which local authorities do not actively promote the take-up of council tax benefit for elderly people.

Chris Pond: The information requested is not available.
	Local authorities have a statutory duty to promote awareness of council tax benefit. But we want to do more to support authorities in their role, to encourage all those who may be entitled to claim. This is why I made a written statement on 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 125WS, in which I announced that we will be launching a take-up campaign to raise the awareness of council tax benefit among those who are likely to be entitled and also their family, friends and carers. Working with local authorities, we will provide promotional material, and will develop guidance and advice to help ensure that procedures are in place to handle inquiries about entitlement and provide support for those, particularly pensioners, making claims.

Child Support Agency

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the administration cost of the Child Support Agency was in each of the last six years; and what the projected expenditure is for 200304.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 2 March 2004
	In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked what the administration cost of the Child Support Agency was in each of the last six years; and what the projected expenditure is for 200304.
	The net operating costs of the Agency as included in the Annual Statement of Accounts are.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199798 225.9 
			 199899 231.2 
			 199900 260.3 
			 200001 250 
			 200102 290.4 
			 200203 294.3 
		
	
	The projected expenditure for 200304 for which the Agency is directly accountable is 320 million. The actual costs will be available when the Agency Accounts are published in July 2004.
	I hope this is helpful.

Child Support Agency

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  when Child Support Agency cases initiated before March 2003 will be transferred to the new system; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether all Child Support Agency cases will be transferred to the new system at the same time; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Dartford (Dr. Stoate) on 27 January 2004, Official Report, column 341W.

Child Support Agency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the timetable is for migration from the old to the new Child Support Agency scheme; and what factors affect the timetable.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer I gave the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1092W.

Child Support Agency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were on each of the Child Support Agency schemes in each month since the inception of the new scheme.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. David Drew, dated 2 March 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were on each of the Child Support Agency schemes in each month since the inception of the new scheme. Because of issues associated with producing management information from the new computer system I cannot answer your question precisely in the format that it is asked. I can however indicate in the table below, the number of cases where;
	either an assessment (old scheme) or a calculation (new scheme) has been completed as at each month end since March 2003, and
	for old scheme cases the record is held on the old computer system and for new scheme cases it is held on our new computer system.
	
		
			  Old scheme New scheme 
		
		
			 March 993,940 10 
			 April 978,420 731 
			 May 960,680 2,541 
			 June 943,880 6,671 
			 July 917,520 13,593 
			 August 899,200 20,792 
			 September 882,800 30,528 
			 October 861,340 42,335 
			 November 839,620 52,310 
			 December 824,460 60,200 
		
	
	In addition there are around 120,000 old scheme cases operating on the new computer system. I cannot at this stage indicate the number of these cases at monthly rests. But the growth in this number toward the current total will mirror the decline in old scheme case numbers set out in the table above.
	I hope that this is helpful.

Child Support Agency

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the performance of the Child Support Agency's new reforms IT system;
	(2)  when he estimates the Department's Child Support Agency new reforms IT system recovery programme will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 2 March 2004
	In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to make a statement on the performance of the Child Support Agency's new reforms IT system and also asked when does he estimate the Department's Child Support Agency new reforms IT system recovery programme will be completed.
	The Secretary of State issued a Written Statement on the performance of the Agency on 12 February 2004. We are continuing to work with EDS on the detail of their proposed recovery plan and that has not yet been finalised.

Child Support Agency

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the new computer programme for the Child Support Agency.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 2 March 2004
	In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to make a statement on the new computer programme for the Child Support Agency.
	The Secretary of State issued a Written Statement on the performance of the Agency on 12 February 2004.

Child Support Agency

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what date he will decide whether to cease to use the new computer system provided by EDS to assess Child Support Agency cases; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer I gave the hon. Member for Tamworth (Mr. Jenkins) on 12 February 2004, Official Report, column 1591W.

Cockle Bed Workers

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Health and Safety Executive has powers to prevent working after dark on cockle beds if this activity presents a risk of serious personal injury.

Chris Pond: holding answer 27 February 2004
	The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has no existing powers to impose a general ban on cockle picking after dark.
	However, HSE inspectors do have the power to issue a prohibition notice on a person carrying on or in control of a work activity until the risks are remedied, if there is sufficient evidence of a breach of health and safety law.

Cockle Bed Workers

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Health and Safety Executive has powers to prohibit work on cockle beds if those activities present a risk of serious personal injury.

Chris Pond: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has no existing powers to impose a general ban on cockle picking.
	However, HSE inspectors do have the power to issue a prohibition notice on a person in control of a work activity to stop that activity until the risks are remedied, if there is sufficient evidence of a breach of health and safety law.

Final Salary Pension Schemes

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to protect the final salary pension schemes of employees; what assistance is provided to those people who are denied access to their pensions following company bankruptcy; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: We are taking significant steps to protect members of defined benefit schemes. We are introducing the Pension Protection Fund, which will protect scheme members by paying compensation if their employer becomes insolvent and the pension scheme is under funded. We are also introducing a new Pensions Regulator that has the flexibility and powers to take a targeted and proportionate approach to protecting the funds held in pension schemes.
	Additionally, on 23 February, we laid Regulations that strengthen members' protection when a defined benefit occupational pension scheme starts to wind up while its sponsoring employer is solvent. On 24 February, we announced changes to the priority order which applies on wind up. This will help ensure that assets of the pension scheme are shared as fairly as possible between non-pensioner and pensioner scheme members.
	In the event of employer insolvency assistance is available to pension scheme members under the Employment Rights Act 1996 and the Pensions Scheme Act 1993. Under these Acts, the Redundancy Payments Directorate makes insolvency payments from the National Insurance Fund (NIF) to qualifying former employees. Claims for unpaid employees' contributions are limited to the actual amount deducted from wages during the 12 months prior to the date of insolvency. Unpaid employers' contributions for the 12 month period prior to the insolvency date are also payable, but are subject to monetary limits depending on the type of pension scheme.

Pension Credit

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money has been allocated to promote Pension Credit; what proportion of these funds will be spent on regional and local media sources; and how much money has been spent advertising the new payment in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

Malcolm Wicks: The marketing campaign for Pension Credit has been designed to be flexible, and the level of expenditure may change according to need. However, in England, Scotland and Wales, it is currently estimated that media costs, including direct mailing, television and press advertising, will be in the region of 1217 million, excluding VAT, to October 2004.
	In Northern Ireland the Department for Social Development is responsible for the promotion and take-up of Pension Credit.
	A direct mail pack to pensioner households remains at the heart of our marketing campaign for Pension Credit. From September 2003 to March 2004 this is being supported by commissioning largely national press and television advertising to introduce Pension Credit in England, Scotland and Wales.
	The proportion of advertising spend in regional and local media is approximately 25 per cent., although this is likely to increase with the identification of key areas for targeting during 2004.
	Actual spend from September 2003 to date is given as follows. Figures exclude VAT.
	England: 7,725,000
	Scotland: 759,000
	Wales: 623,000

Triplex Components

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the situation of the employees at Triplex Components, Peterborough following the closure of its final salary pension scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are aware of the situation of the employees at Triplex Peterborough and Ministers have recently met representatives of the Triplex Pension scheme.
	The Government have not made an assessment of the pension fund prospects in question. However we have great sympathy for the uncertainties they, and other workers in similar circumstances, are facing with regard to their pensions.

Triplex Components

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many final salary pension schemes have been wound up in (i) England and (ii) Cambridgeshire in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Wicks: We are unable to provide these figures. The only source of information on winding up schemes is the Pensions Schemes Registry, which is administered by the Occupational Pension Schemes Regulatory Authority (OPRA). The information on this database is limited and does not allow us to identify the location of schemes winding up.

Winter Fuel Payments

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets the Pensions Agency has set for the issuing of Winter Fuel Payments to those eligible to receive them as (a) existing claimants and (b) new claimants.

Malcolm Wicks: There are no targets set for issuing Winter Fuel Payments. The majority of those who are entitled are paid automatically. We aim to ensure their payments are sent to them before Christmas. People who have not previously received a payment and who do not receive a Social Security benefit other than Child Benefit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit must claim. Provided they have claimed by the Friday of the qualifying week we aim to send them their payments before Christmas as well.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Population Profile

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the population of Northern Ireland is over (a) 50, (b) 55, (c) 60, (d) 65, (e) 75, (f) 85 and (g) 100 years.

Ian Pearson: The percentage of the Northern Ireland estimate of population (mid-2002) aged 50 years and over, 55 years and over, 60 years and over, 65 years and over, 75 years and over and 85 years and over is given in table 1 as follows. Mid-year estimates for those aged 100 and over are not routinely published. However this information is available from the 2001 Census and is given in table 2 as follows.
	
		Table 1: Percentage of the Northern Ireland mid-year estimate of population (2002) by various age-groups
		
			 Age-group Percentage of Northern Ireland population (2002 mid-year estimate) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) 50 years and over 29.06 
			 (b) 55 years and over 23.30 
			 (c) 60 years and over 17.83 
			 (d) 65 years and over 13.40 
			 (e) 75 years and over 6.05 
			 (f) 85 years and over 1.39 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Percentage of the Northern Ireland 2001 Census byage-group
		
			 Age-group Percentage of Northern Ireland Population (2001 Census) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (g) 100 years and over 0.01

Prison Suicides

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost of maintaining suicide watch observations in prisons in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: Prisoners who are considered to be at risk of suicide or self-harm are managed within the normal prison regime and no additional staffing resources are required to keep prisoners at risk under observation.
	Any costs associated with managing prisoners at risk are largely notional. Hence there has been no requirement to quantify costs in monetary terms.

Asbestos

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what regulations apply to building contractors when asbestos is discovered in (a) schools and (b) school premises during building work; and how they are enforced.

Ian Pearson: The legislation that applies in such circumstances is as follows:
	1. The Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order l978
	2. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995
	3. The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003; and
	4. The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1984
	The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is the enforcing authority for the above legislation in relation to a wide range of work premises, including schools. HSENI adopts a risk-based approach to carrying out inspections of asbestos removal operations and insist on a very high standard of compliance with statutory provisions in relation to all such work.

Assets Recovery Agency

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to monitor the operation of the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 requires the Director of the Agency to prepare an annual plan setting out how she intends to exercise her functions during the financial year. The plan includes a statement of the objectives and any performance targets and sets out in particular how the Director intends to exercise her functions in Northern Ireland. It is referred to the Secretary of State for approval.
	The Director must, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, prepare a report on how she has exercised her functions during the financial year.
	I receive regular progress reports from the Agency's Director and the Assistant Director.

Assets Recovery Agency

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the budget of the Assets Recovery Agency has been in each year since its creation.

Jane Kennedy: The Assets Recovery Agency became operational on 24 February 2003. Budget and resource allocation is a matter for the Home Office. The Agency's initial budget for the United Kingdom for 200304 is 13 million.

Car Thefts

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many car thefts there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The information is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of thefts/ unauthorised taking of motor vehicles 
		
		
			 199899 7,983 
			 19992000 8,038 
			 200001 8,563 
			 200102 9,005 
			 200203 8,317

Ceasefire Breaches

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how he defines a breach of a ceasefire; and whether any breaches of ceasefires have been made by the (a) Provisional IRA, (b) UDA and (c) UVF since 1 January.

Jane Kennedy: The Secretary of State, in making a judgment on the status of a paramilitary ceasefire, takes account of all relevant considerations, and in particular those set out in Section 3(9) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. The Government do not comment on specific intelligence matters. I call upon all paramilitary groupings to stop all forms of violent activity.

Civil Service Numbers

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civil servants in Northern Ireland have resigned from the Civil Service as a result of the ongoing pay dispute; what recent steps he has taken to resolve the dispute; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: As far as I am aware no civil servants in Northern Ireland have resigned from the Civil Service as a result of the current pay dispute. Extensive negotiations over several months did not result in an agreed pay deal for the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration this year. Management Side presented an offer worth 3.67 per cent. on 5 November. As this could not be agreed, and Trade Union Side declined to negotiate within the 3.67 per cent. envelope, we took the decision to proceed to pay the award and communicated this to staff and Trade Union Side on 27 November. I have made clear to Trade Union Side that the 3.67 per cent. deal is the maximum that can be paid. We are however open to exploring other reasonable means of resolving the dispute. The latest meeting of the Central Whitley Council between Trade Union and Management Sides took place on Thursday, 19 February, and we have agreed to hold further negotiations as a matter of urgency.
	Members of the NI Civil Service working in the Northern Ireland Office are subject to separate pay negotiations involving three Unions: NIPSA, PCS and the PDA. A formal offer of 3 per cent. was made to the Unions but was rejected. NIO intend to proceed to pay the award at the end of March.

Community Care (Delayed Discharges Etc) Act

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Act 2003 in addressing delayed discharges from hospitals; and what plans he has to introduce similar provisions in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Lady to my answer on 3 November 2003, Official Report, column 394W. The Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Act 2003, which became fully operational on 5 January 2004, places duties upon the NHS and councils relating to communication between authorities and introduces financial incentives to promptly assess and transfer patients. It is therefore premature to make an assessment of the effectiveness of these new arrangements. I am not planning to introduce similar provisions in Northern Ireland for the reasons I have previously set out.

Drug Use

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the work of Life Education Centres in prevention of drug use through education in Northern Ireland; and if he will make further funding available to enable the expansion of this work throughout Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: An evaluation report based on a 3-school sample was received in April 2002.
	Funding has been pledged which will allow the work of the first Life Education Centre to continue and funding has been secured to operate a second Centre until March 2004. Consideration is currently being given to continue this funding to March 2006. There are, however, no plans to extend the present provision of Life Education Centres in Northern Ireland.

Health Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many MRI scans were performed in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Homelessness

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many homeless people there are in Northern Ireland; and what the figures were for each of the past 10 years.

John Spellar: At 31 December 2003, 5,133 households accepted by the Housing Executive as being statutorily homeless were on its waiting list to be permanently re-housed.
	Over the last 10 financial years the numbers who presented to the Housing Executive as being homeless and those accepted by it as statutorily homeless are as follows:
	
		
			  Number presented Number accepted 
		
		
			 200203 16,426 8,580 
			 200102 14,164 7,374 
			 200001 12,694 6,457 
			 19992000 10,997 5,192 
			 199899 11,552 4,997 
			 199798 12,672 4,956 
			 199697 11,092 4,708 
			 199596 10,768 4,319 
			 199495 10,068 4,014 
			 199394 9,731 3,971

Housing Executive Properties

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Housing Executive properties there were in each Northern Ireland housing district in each year since 2000; what steps he is taking to increase the number; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: The following table sets out the number of Housing Executive properties in each of its district office areas at the end of each financial year since 2000.
	
		
			 District 31 March 2000 31 March 2001 31 March 2002 31 March 2003 31 January 2004 
		
		
			 Belfast 1 3,184 2,978 2,837 2,492 2,348 
			 Belfast 2 5,125 5,049 4,663 4,341 4,033 
			 Belfast 3 4,673 4,280 4,037 3,671 3,488 
			 Belfast 4 4,537 4,386 4,226 4,124 3,924 
			 Belfast 5 4,622 5,040 4,689 4,614 4,321 
			 Belfast 6 4,446 4,212 3,970 3,933 3,626 
			 Belfast 7 5,283 5,078 4,885 4,579 4,360 
			 Bangor 3,656 3,551 3,420 3,266 3,092 
			 Newtownards 5,223 5,052 4,848 4,646 4,447 
			 Castlereagh 5,213 4,994 4,790 4,564 4,389 
			 Lisburn (Antrim St.) 6,148 5,817 5,419 5,172 4,933 
			 Lisburn (Dairyfarm) 3,060 2,912 2,698 2,410 2,221 
			 Downpatrick 3,633 3,349 3,101 2,909 2,722 
			 Banbridge 2,486 2,386 2,240 2,097 2,007 
			 Newry 4,766 4,442 4,138 3,847 3,581 
			 Armagh 2,832 2,671 2,489 2,335 2,206 
			 Lurgan 3,978 3,723 3,559 3,345 3,137 
			 Portadown 2,147 2,064 1,987 1,891 1,824 
			 Dungannon 2,553 2,446 2,285 2,137 2,029 
			 Fermanagh 2,958 2,794 2,644 2,481 2,354 
			 Ballymena 4,269 4,010 3,790 3,579 3,391 
			 Antrim 3,689 3,509 3,258 3,071 2925 
			 Newtownabbey 1 3,283 3,042 2,870 2,746 2,586 
			 Newtownabbey 2 3,017 2,830 2,716 2,597 2,516 
			 Carrickfergus 2,933 2,799 2,670 2,444 2,260 
			 Larne 2,233 2,135 2,088 1,890 1,806 
			 Ballycastle 1,144 1,082 1,043 1,002 958 
			 Ballymoney 1,968 1,879 1,784 1,707 1,644 
			 Coleraine 4,159 4,000 3,828 3,665 3,549 
			 Waterloo (L'Derry) 3,319 3,210 3,048 2,819 2,673 
			 Waterside (L'Derry) 3,344 3,209 3,089 2,886 2,753 
			 Collon (L'Derry) 3,454 3,321 3,184 2,978 2,783 
			 Limavady 2,050 1,930 1,841 1,725 1,653 
			 Magherafelt 1,928 1,802 1,705 1,583 1,501 
			 Strabane 3,141 2,976 2,855 2,670 2,515 
			 Omagh 2,597 2,450 2,332 2,217 2,135 
			 Cookstown 1,571 1,467 1,405 1,309 1,230 
			 Northern Ireland total 128,622 122,875 116,431 109,742 103,920 
		
	
	Independent research commissioned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and carried out by the University of Ulster/University of Cambridge estimates a need for between 1,400 and 1,500 new homes per annum. The responsibility for providing all new social housing in Northern Ireland now lies with Registered Housing Associations.

Industrial Tribunals

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many industrial tribunal applications were lodged against the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Police Service of Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what the outcome was in each case;
	(2)  how many contested applications in industrial tribunals resulted in awards against the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Police Service of Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how many of these were appealed to the Court of Appeal;
	(3)  what criteria the Police Service of Northern Ireland uses when determining whether or not to appeal an award made by the industrial tribunal;
	(4)  what costs were incurred by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Police Service of Northern Ireland in defending the industrial tribunal application by Chief Inspector Shamoon at (a) the industrial tribunal, (b) the Court of Appeal and (c) the House of Lords.

Jane Kennedy: Records for the number of industrial tribunal applications are not available earlier than 200001. The following table sets out the number of applications and the current status of each case from 200004.
	
		Industrial tribunal applications and current status
		
			  Lodged Ongoing Withdrawn Dismissed Settled 
		
		
			 200001 72 33 29 6 4 
			 200102 57 30 19 2 6 
			 200203 55 48 6 1 0 
			 200304 50 49 0 1 0 
		
	
	Settlement in each of these cases was in favour of the applicant and none of the settlement awards were appealed.
	The chief constable takes advice from counsel when determining whether or not to appeal an award made by an industrial tribunal. I am advised that an appeal would not be lodged unless counsel advised that it was justified.
	The PSNI incurred costs of 28,442.05 in respect of the industrial tribunal application by Chief Inspector Shamoon. Costs in respect of the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords were awarded against Chief Inspector Shamoon.

Joyriding

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were convicted of joyriding offences in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; how many of these incidents resulted in (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal injuries; and what steps he is taking to reduce these figures.

Jane Kennedy: Joyriding is currently not a specific offence in law so the information is not available in the format requested. The table sets out the number of convictions for taking a motor vehicle without the owner's consent from 1997 to 2001 which is the most up to date information available.
	
		
			  Taking a motor vehicle without the owner's consent 
		
		
			 1997 453 
			 1998 401 
			 1999 294 
			 2000 328 
			 2001 350 
		
	
	The following tables set out details of collisions involving stolen vehicles and hit and run collisions but the identification of those specifically relating to joyriding could be obtained only at disproportionate expenses.
	
		Road traffic collisions involving stolen vehicles(17); 19982002
		
			  Fatal collisions Serious collisions Slight collisions Total 
		
		
			 1998 6 29 165 200 
			 1999 3 25 196 224 
			 2000 4 45 228 277 
			 2001 6 50 231 287 
			 2002 5 29 192 226 
		
	
	
		Road traffic collisions involving hit and run vehicles(18) 19982002
		
			  Fatal collisions Serious collisions Slight collisions Total 
		
		
			 1998 6 44 483 533 
			 1999 9 54 550 613 
			 2000 4 98 734 836 
			 2001 4 83 738 825 
			 2002 6 103 659 768 
		
	
	(17) Stolen vehicles only include those vehicles which are known by the police to be stolen
	(18) Hit and run vehicles may include vehicles which are stolen
	The PSNI are involved in a number of initiatives to reduce the number of vehicles taken without the permission of the owner. In West Belfast an Auto Crime Team has been established to specifically address this issue. While such initiatives can help reduce the incidence of vehicle crime it has been recognised that a long-term strategy is required and the PSNI are working in partnership with a number of agencies and groups, to tackle this problem as part of a multi-agency project. Each District Command Unit uses a range of resources and methods to target vehicle related crime in their area as effectively as possible.
	In addition to these measures the Government will publish draft legislation for Northern Ireland for consultation by the end of January, aimed at tackling so-called joy-riding offences. The proposed legislation will introduce two new offences: aggravated vehicle taking, attracting a maximum prison sentence of five years and causing death or grievous bodily injury by aggravated vehicle taking, which will attract a maximum prison sentence of 14 years. These tough new measures are part of the Government's overall strategy to specifically target and punish so-called joy-riders.

Learning Disabilities Strategy

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the Strategy for People with Learning Disabilities; and when recommendations will be published.

Jane Kennedy: A great deal of work is being taken forward by the Department of Education in a range of areas to improve the levels of provision for children with learning difficulties, and in particular autism and dyslexia. While this represents a broad strategic approach, the Department is not engaged in a formal exercise to draw up a Strategy for People with Learning Disabilities.
	In 2002, two Northern Ireland Education Task Groups published reports, with recommendations, on the future development of educational provision for children with autism and dyslexia. Following DE-led conferences on these areas in autumn 2002, Education and Library Boards (ELBs) have prioritised the reports' recommendations and consequently the Department has made 270,000 available in 200304 and up to 540,000 in 200405 to the ELBs to develop training needs and support measures in the field of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). An Inter Board ASD Group has been established, which will promote consistency of approach in relation to children with ASD across the five ELBs. A further 500,000 was allocated in 200304 to provide support and training for parents and staff in pre-school settings working with children with ASD.
	DE led the collaborative North/South production of complementary parent and teacher videos/CD-ROMs and guidance material on autism. These were distributed widely across Northern Ireland in 2003. A dyslexia video/DVD ROM is also nearing completion by a joint North/South group and it is hoped to distribute this in the near future. The Education and Training Inspectorate is working to produce a Dyslexia Friendly Schools guide during 2004.
	A Steering Group, comprising health and education authorities from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, are taking forward the development of the Centre of Excellence for children and young people with ASD at Middletown, Co. Armagh.

Local Management of Schools

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect of the formula for funding local management of schools on primary schools' ability to fund full teaching costs.

Jane Kennedy: The cost of teaching staff is met from each school's budget. The number of teachers appointed and the management structure within a school is a matter for the Board of Governors of the school to determine, taking account of the school's policies, priorities and overall financial position.
	In determining the amount to be made available for allocation to schools, account is taken of the likely change to the overall teacher salary bill arising from, among other things, pay settlements. Additional resources are made available for small schools with above average teacher salary costs.

Medical Negligence

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many medical negligence cases are pending within each health trust.

Angela Smith: At 31 January 2004, the number of cases pending in each Trust was as follows:
	
		
			 Trust Number of Cases 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Hospitals HSS Trust 216 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 37 
			 Belfast City Hospital Trust HSS Trust 273 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 90 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 15 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 167 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 145 
			 Foyle HSS Trust 14 
			 Green Park HSS Trust 53 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 19 
			 Mater Hospital HSS Trust 103 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 118 
			 Northern Ireland Ambulance Service HSS Trust 1 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 9 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals and Dental Hospital HSS Trust 482 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 9 
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust 112 
			 United Hospitals HSS Hospital Trust 220 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust 291

Mental Health

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the early indications of the effectiveness of (a) Assertive Outreach and (b) Crisis Response Teams in the practice of mental health locally.

Angela Smith: Assertive Outreach and Crisis Response Teams were established in the Northern and Southern Health and Social Services Boards in 2003. It is too early to assess the impact of these services in the Southern Board but initial indications from the Northern Board show a degree of success. The Eastern Board plan to have Crises Response and Home Treatment Services operational by April 2004 and the Western Board have commissioned Foyle Trust to develop a Crises Response Out of Hours Pilot Service.

Mobile Phone Masts

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many mobile telephone masts there are in each Northern Ireland constituency; and what the equivalent figures were for each year since 2000.

Angela Smith: Unfortunately, Planning Service is unable to provide the information of the number of mobile telephone masts in the format requested.
	This is because Planning Service's computer system does not distinguish between constituencies, its records are categorised by Divisional Planning Office and Council Area. Additionally, although Planning Service has a record of applications for telecommunication equipment, which have been approved, once an application has been approved, we cannot advise if the mast has been erected or activated.

Mobile Phone Masts

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications there have been to construct mobile telephone masts in Northern Ireland in each year since 2000; how many of these applications have been (a) granted and (b) refused; and what the reason for refusal was in each case.

Angela Smith: Details of applications including full planning applications and, prior to 21 June 2002, prior approval applications for telecommunications equipment approved and refused for each year since 2000 are set out in the table.
	
		
			  Approved Refuse 
		
		
			 2000 396 52 
			 2001 450 94 
			 2002 307 37 
			 2003 141 11 
			 Total 1,294 201 
		
	
	As over 200 applications have been refused, it would be extremely time consuming and resource intensive to extract and identify the reasons for refusal in each case. It would therefore be at a disproportionate cost to Planning Service.

Occupational Therapy

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients are awaiting occupational therapy assessment and how many have waited for more than six months; and what the figures were at each six-month interval over the past five years.

Angela Smith: The figures for persons awaiting assessment by a community occupational therapist in respect of priority cases, non-priority cases and total cases are shown in the following table, for the position at quarters ending September 1998 to September 2003 (the latest date for which such information is available).
	
		Number of persons waiting for assessment by community occupational therapists, and number waiting for six months or more
		
			  Priority Non-priority Total 
			 Quarter ending Total 6 plus months Total 6 plus months Total 6 plus months 
		
		
			 September 1998 1,627 88 7,055 2,042 8,682 2,130 
			 March 1999 1,487 117 8,358 2,126 9,845 2,243 
			 September 1999 1,965 292 9,217 2,921 11,182 3,213 
			 March 2000 1,193 298 9,658 3,222 10,851 3,520 
			 September 2000 1,819 240 11,182 5,515 13,001 5,755 
			 March 2001 1,307 83 8,081 4,065 9,388 4,148 
			 September 2001 1,356 67 8,123 4,010 9,479 4,077 
			 March 2002 1,549 138 6,806 2,937 8,355 3,075 
			 September 2002 2,052 307 7,775 3,124 9,827 3,431 
			 March 2003 1,881 247 6,604 2,719 8,485 2,966 
			 September 2003 1,880 243 6,390 2,370 8,270 2,613

Police Ombudsman's Office

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many civilians officers from the Police Ombudsman's Office have arrested since the Office was set up.

Jane Kennedy: The Police Ombudsman has advised that one civilian has been arrested by her investigating officers since the setting up of the office.

Police Ombudsman's Office

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has received complaints from police officers regarding (a) actions by officers from the Ombudsman's Office and (b) investigations carried out by the Police Ombudsman.

Jane Kennedy: A number of officers have written to the Northern Ireland Office regarding the Ombudsman's Office. However, the Police Ombudsman's Office is operationally independent and the handling of investigations by the Ombudsman's staff is a matter for the Police Ombudsman's Office.

Police Ombudsman's Office

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what powers he has to require explanations from the Police Ombudsman on (a) the actions of her officers and (b) investigations carried out by her office.

Jane Kennedy: The Secretary of State has no statutory powers to require explanations from the Police Ombudsman on the actions of her officers or the investigations carried out by her office.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many serving members of the full-time Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve have passed entrance examinations for full-time posts in the PSNI and have not been appointed because of restrictions arising from 50:50 appointment legislation.

Jane Kennedy: From competitions 1 to 4, 1,706 non-Catholic and 604 Catholic applicants have qualified for appointment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Of these, 530 of each community background have been appointed. Of the qualified Catholic candidates, all were offered appointment, but some withdrew in the time intervening between qualification for appointment and the time of appointment.
	Appointments from competition 5 have started, although the pool is not yet finalised, and the pool for competition 6 is not expected to be ready until April this year.
	The information on the number of candidates who have passed the entrance examinations (i.e. have been successful in becoming qualified candidates and reaching the merit pool) more than once is taking some time to collate. As soon as the figures are available, they will be forwarded.

Prison Officers

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prison officers in Northern Ireland have taken sick leave in each of the past 18 months on account of work-related stress; and how many of these officers have since returned to work.

Jane Kennedy: The information is as follows.
	
		Prison Officer Grades absent suffering from work-related stress between 1February 2003 and 27February 2004
		
			  Number of staff absent during month Number of staff who have since returned to work 
		
		
			 February 2003 1 1 
			 March 2003 1 1 
			 April 2003 1 1 
			 May 2003 1 1 
			 June 2003 2 1 
			 July 2003 8 6 
			 August 2003 16 13 
			 September 2003 18 13 
			 October 2003 18 12 
			 November 2003 19 11 
			 December 2003 19 10 
			 January 2004 23 12 
			 February 2004 17 4 
		
	
	At the end of February 2004, 13 officers remained absent due to work related stress.
	Figures were not obtainable prior to February 2003 for work related stress as the computer system at that time did not differentiate between stress and work related stress.

Prisons

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the cost of maintaining prisons in the Province in 200304.

Jane Kennedy: The estimated cost of maintaining prisons in Northern Ireland in 200304 is 109,581,000.

Rates

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research has been conducted into the impact the removal of rates relief on manufacturing premises will have on manufacturing industries; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Our assessment on the likely impact of the phasing out of industrial derating on the manufacturing industry in Northern Ireland (NI) came from a variety of different sources; for example, studies by DTZ Pieda, Invest NI as well as evidence presented during the public consultation exercise in 2002 by the DETI and DFP Assembly Committees, the CBI and local economists. The policy paper published in April last year included the Regulatory Impact Assessment, New TSN and Equality Impact Assessments. All this evidence was summarised, analysed and considered objectively and the various options were discussed openly with representatives of the business community before a final decision was made.

Rates

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research has been conducted into the impact levying rates on vacant buildings will have on investment in deprived areas; what proposals there are for exemptions; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The decision to rate vacant non-domestic property was informed by an analysis of the potential impact on deprived areas. It concluded that the impact is likely to be positive because such property tends to be concentrated in deprived areas and the effect of the measure will be to encourage owners to bring them back into use and occupation. This New TSN analysis was published with the policy paper in April 2003.
	In line with the outcomes of the consultation exercise in 2002, the exemptions to the vacant rate will largely mirror those in the rest of the UK. They will cover the situation where the occupation or use of the property is restricted or prohibited in some way, or where the person would be liable only as a proxy for someone else. Property with a net annual value of less than 2,000, property vacant for less than three months, and other properties such as listed buildings will also be exempt. It is also intended to exempt industrial property, that is factories, mines and quarries, from the vacant rate. However, standalone warehouses will not be exempt because, unlike industrial property, they can be readily converted and put on the market for sale or letting to a range of buyers or tenants.

Residential Disabled Parking

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used in the allocation of residential disabled car parking spaces in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Smuggling

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on smuggling by paramilitary organisations.

Jane Kennedy: There is no doubt that paramilitary organisations continue to engage in organised criminality including smuggling.
	While cross-border co-operation between law enforcement agencies is already very good, the Government are fully committed to working with the Government in the Irish Republic to further improve that collaboration by developing strategies and structures to enable law enforcement agencies to maximise their effectiveness against the organised criminals who use the border to smuggle.
	I pay tribute to the activity of law enforcement agencies against the smugglers, which has resulted in unprecedented successes against illegal drug importation and a second year of growth in the levels of legitimate deliveries of road fuel oils into Northern Ireland, after five years of decline.

Translink

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average age of rolling stock in service with Translink is; and what progress has been made with the introduction of new rolling stock to the railway network in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: The following table gives a breakdown by type for the different locomotives and carriages used on the Northern Ireland Railways network. This information was supplied by Translink.
	
		
			  Age (years) 
		
		
			 Two GM locomotives 8 
			 14 De Dietrich carriages 7 
			 Three GM locomotives 22 
			 11 ex-Gatwick carriages 31 
			   
			 80 class:  
			 20 power cars 26 
			 19 driving trailers 28 
			 17 intermediate trailers 29 
			   
			 450 class:  
			 Nine power cars 17 
			 Nine driving trailers 17 
			 Nine intermediate trailers 17 
		
	
	Translink also advise that the first of the 23 new trains is scheduled to be delivered in April 2004 with the remainder being delivered progressively through the rest of 2004 and the first part of 2005. Translink expect that all the trains will be in service by the Autumn of 2005.

Social Deprivation

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what wards are in the top (a) 15 per cent., (b) 20 per cent. and (c) 25 per cent. of wards in Northern Ireland ranked by social deprivation according to the Noble Index.

Ian Pearson: The Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measures (commonly referred to as the Noble measures of deprivation) were published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency in July 2001. I have placed details of those wards in the top 15 per cent., 20 per cent. and 25 per cent. as ranked by multiple deprivation measure score, in the Library.

Unemployment

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the likely trends in unemployment in Northern Ireland in 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Government does not produce forecasts for unemployment. The Northern Ireland economy has benefited from the stability generated by the UK's strong macroeconomic framework while the performance of the labour market in particular has proved resilient in the face of global economic uncertainty.
	Current Labour Market Statistics show that employment is at record levels and claimant unemployment is at its lowest rates since the mid 1970s. According to the Labour Force Survey, however, figures for the period October to December 2003 show a rise in the rate to 6.3 per cent. (48,000 people) from 5.6 per cent. a year earlier. This is still 1.7 percentage points lower than the EU15 average.

Unused Medications

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the cost of unused medications in the last 12 months.

Angela Smith: The cost of unused medicines in Northern Ireland is estimated at approximately 2 million per year. Further information is contained in Making it BetterA Strategy for Pharmacy in the Community, which can be viewed on the Department's website at www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/publications/2004/makingitbetter.html.

PRIME MINISTER

Electoral Registration

Mark Tami: To ask the Prime Minister what guidance he provides to local authorities on voter registration.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	My Department provides regular guidance and information to local electoral registration officers (EROs) on policy issues and legislative changes relating to voter registration arrangements. Separately, the independent Electoral Commission is responsible for offering advice and guidance to EROs on the detailed requirements of these and other voter registration matters.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will assess his answering practices in relation to parliamentary questions against the (a) Open Government Code of Conduct and (b) Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Tony Blair: Section 1 of the Ministerial Code provides guidance to ministers on answering Parliamentary Questions which takes account of the requirements of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The Freedom of Information legislation takes effect in January 2005.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Adoption Orders

Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many adoption orders have been set aside in each of the last 10 years.

David Lammy: This information is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	An adoption order can only be set aside in wholly exceptional circumstances. Section 52 of the Adoption Act 1976 provides for the revocation of an adoption order where a person adopted by his father or mother alone subsequently becomes legitimate on the marriage of his parents. Section 53 provides for the annulment of overseas and Hague Convention adoptions on grounds of public policy. There is no other statutory basis for revoking a validly made adoption order.

Child Custody

Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many applications for orders relating to child custody were heard at each (a) Crown Court centre and (b) magistrates' court area in England in the last year for which information is available; what proportion were granted; how many were ex-parte applications; and what proportion of ex-parte applications were granted.

Christopher Leslie: Applications for child custody are made in the county courts and family proceedings courts and not the Crown Court. Figures showing the number of applications for a residence order and the number of orders made in the county courts and family proceedings courts in England for the year 2002 are provided in the table. No information is held centrally concerning those applications that were made ex-parte and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		Applications and orders made in the family proceedings courts in England, 2002
		
			 Family proceedings court Applications made Orders made Percentage orders granted 
		
		
			 Aldridge and Brownhills 11 8 74.8 
			 Ashby De La Zouch 24 68 283.3 
			 Barnsley 39 24 62.0 
			 Berwick upon Tweed 3 3 100.0 
			 Bexley 37 28 75.7 
			 Blackpool 54 44 815 
			 Bolton 29 26 89.7 
			 Bristol 43 43 100.0 
			 Burnley 40 32 80.0 
			 Burnley and Pendle 40 24 60.0 
			 Bury 37 45 121.6 
			 Canterbury and St. Augustine 8 8 100.0 
			 Carlisle 40 32 80.0 
			 Central Buckinghamshire 8 10 125.0 
			 Chichester 8 4 50.0 
			 Chorley 12 5 41.7 
			 Cirencester/Fairford and Tetbury 32 44 137.5 
			 City of Salford 35 62 177.1 
			 Claro 21 19 87.8 
			 Coquetdale 2 1 50.0 
			 Crawley 24 12 50.0 
			 Derby and South Derbyshire 72 76 105.6 
			 Doncaster 53 44 83.0 
			 East Retford 272 288 105.9 
			 Exeter and Wonford (East Devon) 36 28 77.8 
			 Folkestone and Hythe 32 41 129.7 
			 Furness and District 47 53 112.8 
			 Gateshead 19 16 84.2 
			 Gloucester 51 57 113.0 
			 Godstone 16 4 25.0 
			 Great Yarmouth 12 12 100.0 
			 Grimsby and Cleethorpes 15 15 100.0 
			 Hastings 22 16 72.7 
			 High Peak 12 4 33.3 
			 Inner London Family Proceedings Co. 448 263 58.6 
			 Kingston-on-Hull 44 36 81.8 
			 Langbaugh East 5 2 40.0 
			 Leicester 57 85 149.7 
			 Leigh 12 36 300.0 
			 Lincoln District 12 10 83.3 
			 Liverpool 85 44 51.8 
			 Loughborough 20 0 0.0 
			 Manchester 133 96 72.2 
			 Mansfield 328 160 48.8 
			 Market Bosworth 32 4 12.5 
			 Melton and Belvoir 8 36 450.0 
			 Mid Sussex 12 0 0.0 
			 Milton Keynes 16 4 25.0 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 60 47 77.8 
			 North and East Hertfordshire 1888/9/75/ 12 12 100.0 
			 North and East Surrey 20 12 60.0 
			 North Avon 12 13 108.3 
			 North Bedfordshire 23 23 100.0 
			 North East Suffolk 11 12 112.1 
			 North Oxfordshire 8 20 250.0 
			 North Somerset 30 23 76.7 
			 North Tyneside 27 21 77.8 
			 North West Surrey 2 6 300.0 
			 Norwich 3 3 100.0 
			 Nottinghamshire 198 196 99.0 
			 Oldham 42 25 59.5 
			 Ormskirk 21 16 76.2 
			 Oxford 23 18 78.3 
			 Plymouth 38 32 84.2 
			 Rochdale Middleton and Heywood 60 74 123.3 
			 Rotherham 18 21 116.7 
			 Scunthorpe 33 16 48.0 
			 Sedgemoor 24 16 66.7 
			 Sheffield 48 53 110.4 
			 Slough 8 4 50.0 
			 South East Cornwall 72 36 50.0 
			 South East Hampshire 31 9 29.0 
			 South East Northumberland 52 22 42.3 
			 South East Surrey 2 6 300.0 
			 South Ribble 4 1 32.5 
			 South Somerset 5 0 0.0 
			 South West Surrey 1 0 0.0 
			 Spilsby and Skegness 40 28 70.0 
			 Stafford 124 124 100.0 
			 Staincliffe 4 3 75.0 
			 Stockport 40 34 85.0 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 65 43 66.2 
			 Sutton 14 11 78.6 
			 Tameside 35 50 142.9 
			 Teesside 98 119 121.4 
			 Thanet 25 15 58.1 
			 Trafford 19 7 36.8 
			 Walsall 18 14 77.8 
			 Warwick 100 36 36.0 
			 West Somerset 30 24 80.0 
			 Whitehaven 9 11 122.2 
			 Wigan 41 11 25.9 
			 Willesden 12 10 83.3 
			 Wimbledon 9 8 88.9 
			 Wirrall (Birkenhead) 10 6 60.0 
			 Worthing and District 8 0 0.0 
			 Wycombe and Beaconsfield 3 5 166.7 
			 York 22 13 59.1 
		
	
	Note:
	The orders made do not necessarily relate to the applications made due to the period between application and order. The figures contain imputed data.

Court Proceedings (Adjournment)

John Cryer: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make an assessment of the impact on victims of crime of repeated adjournments of court proceedings at crown and magistrates' courts.

Christopher Leslie: In the Crown court close management of ineffective trials by courts and other Criminal Justice System agencies has resulted in a reduction to 17.8 per cent. in January 2004 from the baseline of 23 per cent. set last year. Progress in the magistrates court has been slower, but is still 1.5 per cent. better than the baseline, at 29.4 per cent. in January.
	Interviews with victims of crime have found that the inconvenience and emotional upheaval each adjournment causes reduces the likelihood that the victim will attend the next time.
	The Government are addressing the problem of ineffective trials through the Effective Trial Management Programme, which will ensure cases are ready on the trial date. In addition, on 4 February the Government announced a 27 million award for the No Witness, No Justice Project. This project will ensure victims and witnesses needs are taken into account so that they are more likely to attend on the date of trial.
	The impact of each is being assessed.

Court Proceedings (Adjournment)

John Cryer: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps he is taking to reduce the number of unnecessary adjournments of court proceedings.

Christopher Leslie: Adjournments and ineffective hearings in criminal cases are often caused by poor case preparation. The Department for Constitutional Affairs is working with the Home Office and Crown Prosecution Service to reduce the number of ineffective trials and improve case preparation and progression, including through the Effective Trial Management Programme. All criminal courts have been directed to address the rate of ineffective trials.

Criminal Defence Services

Edward Garnier: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the average cost per case of (a) defence counsel and (b) solicitors for the defence funded by the Criminal Defence Services in (i) 200102 and (ii) 200203.

David Lammy: It is not possible to provide information in the form requested for the following reasons:
	(a) work under the General Criminal Contract, carried out for hearings in the magistrates courts, is paid for by a different mechanism from hearings in the Crown court. Therefore there is no continuity of data which would readily enable us to identify total payments in cases heard in the magistrates court, and which are subsequently transferred to the Crown court and;
	(b) standard fees in the magistrates courts paid to solicitors may include money subsequently paid by a solicitor to unassigned counsel for publicly funded work. Therefore is not possible to obtain average case costs split between solicitor and counsel.

Emergency Protection Orders

Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many applications were heard for emergency protection orders in each county in England in the last year for which information is available; what proportion were granted; how many were ex-parte applications; and what proportion of ex-parte applications were granted.

Christopher Leslie: Figures showing the number of applications for an emergency protection order and the number of orders made, by each county in England for the year 2002, are provided in the following table. No information is held centrally concerning those applications that were made ex-parte and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		Emergency Protection Ordersapplications and orders made, by county, 2002
		
			 County Total applications Total orders Percentage orders granted 
		
		
			 Avon 40 38 95.0 
			 Bedfordshire 50 28 56.0 
			 Berkshire 15 10 66.7 
			 Buckinghamshire 34 33 97.1 
			 Cambridgeshire 5 0 0.0 
			 Cheshire 0 0  
			 Cleveland and Darlington 65 30 46.2 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 37 20 54.1 
			 Cumbria 19 15 78.9 
			 Derbyshire 18 14 77.8 
			 Devon 30 26 86.7 
			 Dorset 0 0  
			 Durham 16 4 25.0 
			 E Riding and N Lincolnshire 4 0 0.0 
			 Essex 6 1 16.7 
			 Gloucestershire 29 24 81.9 
			 Greater London 80 73 91.3 
			 Greater Manchester 202 163 80.9 
			 Hampshire 36 24 66.1 
			 Herefordshire and Worcestershire 0 0  
			 Hertfordshire 1 0 0.0 
			 Humberside 57 50 87.7 
			 Kent 26 28 707.8 
			 Lancashire 74 47 63.5 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland 32 20 62.5 
			 Lincolnshire 22 17 77.3 
			 London 364 274 75.2 
			 Merseyside 28 21 75.0 
			 N. Somerset and S. Gloucestershire 2 0 0.0 
			 Norfolk 29 28 96.6 
			 North Yorkshire 28 17 60.7 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0  
			 Northumberland 6 6 700.0 
			 Nottinghamshire 134 119 88.8 
			 Oxfordshire 35 32 91.4 
			 Shropshire 1 1 100.0 
			 Somerset 24 12 50.0 
			 South Yorkshire 60 60 100.0 
			 Staffordshire 144 125 86.8 
			 Suffolk 9 3 33.3 
			 Surrey 41 33 80.5 
			 Sussex 90 84 93.3 
			 Tyne and Wear 45 19 419 
			 Warwickshire 44 44 700.0 
			 West Midlands 72 49 68.7 
			 West Yorkshire 71 7 9.9 
			 Wiltshire 1 3 300.0 
			 National 2,127 1,603 75.3 
		
	
	Note:
	The orders made do not necessarily relate to the applications made due to the period between application and order. The figures contain imputed data.

Family History Research

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps his Department can take to enable individuals researching their family history to obtain more official documents, including censuses, online.

Christopher Leslie: In recent years the National Archives has developed many online services aimed at family historians, including the digitisation of wills from 1384 to 1858. This and other services are available on its website at: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk. It also operates a website which acts as a gateway for online family sources throughout the United Kingdom at www.familyrecords.gov.uk. The National Archives is determined to maintain this momentum through the development of its digitisation programmes and licensing agreements with commercial organisations.

Family History Research

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will publish online the 1911 census.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I have given to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland on 10 December 2003, Official Report, column 457W and on 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1112W.

Judicial Review

Iain Coleman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what the average cost to public funds of a judicial review case was in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what the (a) average and (b) total cost was to public funds of judicial review cases relating to decisions under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill 2002 in 2003.

Christopher Leslie: The Administrative Court Office does not identify unit costs for judicial review claims.
	It is not responsible for funding for legal aid for judicial reviewthat is the responsibility of the Legal Services Commissionand details of costs incurred by public authorities responding to claims are not kept by the Administrative Court Office.
	The information requested therefore could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Judicial Review

Iain Coleman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average length to final determination was of a judicial review case in each of the last three years.

Christopher Leslie: The average waiting times for civil judicial review (issued after October 2000 when the new judicial review procedure was introduced) for the last three calendar years are as follows:
	200120.9 weeks
	200231.3 weeks
	200331.1 weeks
	The average waiting times include the periods in which cases were stood out of the list pending determination of test cases and any subsequent appeals in those matters.

Judicial Review

Iain Coleman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average length of judicial review cases relating to decisions under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 was in 2003.

Christopher Leslie: In 2003 the average waiting time for such cases was 19.9 weeks including the time cases were 'stood out' pending decisions in lead cases and any subsequent appeals in those lead cases.

Video Equipment in Courts

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the quality of video equipment used in courts.

Christopher Leslie: All 78 Crown court have at least one set of VHS video playback equipment and some sites have this facility in each courtroom. There are currently 388 sets installed in a total of 521 courtrooms. 269 of these courtrooms also have facilities to link to remote witness rooms so that witnesses can give evidence without attending the courtroom.
	154 magistrates courts are equipped with videoconferencing facilities and video playback equipment. A total of 179 courtrooms have this facility and there are 133 rooms in which vulnerable and intimidated witnesses can give remote evidence.
	10 county courts and nine Immigration Appellate Authority sites have been provided with modern stand alone video conferencing equipment.
	This equipment has been installed in courts over the past 10 years and comprises a range of different makes and models. The vast majority of magistrates court equipment has been installed within the past three years and 20 per cent. of the Crown court installations have taken place in the past 12 months. This equipment includes VHS video and DVD players together with fixed plasma display screens.
	All of the video equipment in place meets current business requirements and is being used on a regular basis during hearings and trials. A comprehensive maintenance contract ensures that any reported failure of equipment is attended to as a matter of urgency. Equipment is typically serviced twice per annum.

Voter Participation/Registration

Mark Tami: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment has been made of participation rates in general elections in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) other EU countries in the last five years.

Christopher Leslie: While the Government are aware of participation rates in general elections in the UK and other EU countries, they have not conducted any specific research. The independent Electoral Commission reported on the outcome of the 2001 general election and has conducted research on voting intentions for the European parliamentary and London's Mayoral and Assembly elections in June 2004.

Voter Participation/Registration

Mark Tami: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research his Department has conducted on the implications of the introduction of compulsory participation in United Kingdom elections.

Christopher Leslie: None. However, the Government are aware that the independent Electoral Commission has indicated that it intends to conduct future research on the international use of compulsory voting.

Voter Participation/Registration

Mark Tami: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research his Department has conducted on the use of (a) legal and (b) fixed penalties to encourage higher levels of voter registration.

Christopher Leslie: None. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), appointed for the purpose by local authorities, are responsible for compiling the electoral register. It is already an offence punishable upon conviction by a fine not exceeding 1,000 for a person to fail to comply with a request for information from, or to provide false information to, an ERO who is seeking to carry out his duty to prepare an electoral register.

Voter Participation/Registration

Mark Tami: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research his Department has carried out to ascertain why individuals do not register to vote.

Christopher Leslie: Research on why individuals fail to register to vote has not been carried out by this Department. However, the Government are aware that the independent Electoral Commission has published several research reports on voter engagement that have included coverage of levels of registration.

Voter Participation/Registration

Mark Tami: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage people to complete electoral registration forms.

Christopher Leslie: The Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 introduced in February 2001 a number of changes to voter registration procedures aimed both at making it easier for persons to register to vote, and at achieving more accurate and up to date electoral registers. These changes included the introduction of 'rolling registration' and enabling persons without a conventional address to register to vote. The Government ran major public information campaigns at that time to publicise these changes.
	The independent Electoral Commission is now responsible for raising public awareness of registration issues.

Voter Participation/Registration

Mark Tami: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of people who failed to register to vote in the UK in each of the last five years.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested has not been collected by the Government.

Voter Participation/Registration

Mark Tami: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many registered postal voters there were in each constituency in the UK at the 2001 general election.

Christopher Leslie: The independent Electoral Commission published in January 2002 'Postal votes, proxy votes and spoilt ballot papers at the 2001 general election', which provides this information. I understand that the Commission placed copies of that document in the Library of the House at the time of publication.

Voter Participation/Registration

Mark Tami: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of a rolling register on levels of voter registration in the UK.

Christopher Leslie: The Government consider that 'rolling registration' has resulted in more accurate and up to date electoral registers. I understand that the independent Electoral Commission has commenced further research to assess the operation and impact of rolling registration on levels of voter registration. The Government will consider carefully any findings made by the Electoral Commission on this issue.

HEALTH

Genetically Modified Crops

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what ruminant feeding trials have been conducted with T25 genetically modified fodder maize; whether such trials have been (a) published and (b) peer reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the implications of such trials for the commercialisation of T25 maize.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 1 March 2004
	Ruminant feeding studies are not routinely required as part of the regulatory approval process for the marketing of new genetically modified organisms. Information on the specific GM event is used, with compositional analysis, to demonstrate whether a GM plant is substantially equivalent to its conventional counterpart. We are not aware of any published or peer reviewed reports of ruminant feeding trials conducted with T25 genetically modified fodder maize.

Alefacept

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on research into Alefacept use for treating psoriasis; and what plans he has to introduce this in Northern Ireland.

Stephen Ladyman: We have no plans to undertake research into the use of Alefacept for treating psoriasis. Alefacept does not have a United Kingdom Marketing Authorisation. As an unlicensed medicine, doctors may prescribe it on a named-patient basis, but it will only be available on the national health service if the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency grants it a licence.
	Decisions on health policy in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office whilst the institutions are suspended.

Allergies

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has carried out into the causes of the change in the number of people suffering from allergies.

Stephen Ladyman: A range of research projects on the epidemiology of allergies have recently been completed or are ongoing. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) was formed in 1991. Phase one measured the prevalence of childhood asthma, hay fever and atopic eczema for international comparisons. Phase two began in 1998 and involves more intensive studies in a smaller number of countries. The Department funded the United Kingdom contribution to phase two.
	King's College London has led a 2.1 million European Commission-funded prospective study of the incidence and prognosis of allergy, allergic disease and low lung function in adults living in Europe. King's College is also participating in the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network, launched on 12 February 2004. In addition, the University of Manchester is leading a 1.2 million EC-funded investigation of the prevalence, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of sun allergy across Europe. Sun-provoked skin reactions are one of the commonest forms of allergy.
	This European and international research activity will contribute to evidence on the possible causes of the increase in allergy rates in the United Kingdom and other European countries.

Allergies

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for extending specialised allergy services in (a) England and Wales, (b) the North West and (c) Blackpool.

Stephen Ladyman: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts, in partnership with other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to provide health services for their populations, including those with allergies.

Allergies

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) adults and (b) children have been recorded as suffering from allergies in (i) England and Wales, (ii) the North West and (iii) Blackpool in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not held centrally. Last year, in its report, Allergythe unmet need: a blueprint for better patient care, the Royal College of Physicians estimated that around one in six of the population is affected by allergy.

Avian Influenza

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to protect the population from avian influenza; and whether a vaccine will be made available.

Melanie Johnson: As soon as avian influenza disease was reported by the Thai and United States authorities, the United Kingdom banned imports of fresh meat of poultry, poultry meat products, raw material for animal feed production, eggs for human consumption, live captive birds such as falcons and finches, unprocessed feathers and untreated game trophies, untreated poultry manure, ratites farmed and wild feathered game from those countries.
	Various organisations worldwide are looking at producing a vaccine against avian influenza H5N1 including the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control in the UK. This work is estimated to take about six months.

Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of cancer cases which were preventable in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by type of cancer.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 26 January 2004
	There is no safe way to estimate the numbers of cancer cases that were preventable. Smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise all play their part in causing cancers but less controlable factors such as genetic make-up and environment make identifying preventable factors difficult.

Care Homes (Deaths)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many care assistants employed in care homes in England and Wales have confirmed the death of a resident in the past 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether it is his policy to encourage doctors to train care assistants to confirm deaths that occur in care homes; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 11 February 2004
	Under the Care Homes Regulations and the Care Homes (Wales) Regulations care home providers are required without delay to notify the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) and the Care Standards Inspectorate for Wales (CSIW) respectively that a resident has died, including the circumstances of the death. In practice, a member of staff working in the home will notify the regulator. The NCSC and the CSIW do not collect information about which member of staff in a care home has notified them of the death of a resident.
	The doctor who attended the resident during his or her last illness is responsible for certifying the cause of death. If a doctor feels unable to complete the death certificate the death is referred to the coroner for investigation.
	Care home providers are responsible for ensuring that the staff working in care homes have qualifications suitable to the work they are to perform and the skills and experience necessary for such work. Providers are also expected to arrange appropriate training for their staff. We would expect this to include all aspects of dealing with the death of a resident.

Chiropody Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to improve access to chiropody services.

Stephen Ladyman: It is for primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services. Their responsibilities include access to chiropody services locally.

Causes of Death

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths in people over 60 since 1997 were due to (a) cancer, (b) coronary heart disease and (c) falls; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 2 March 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many deaths in people aged over 60 since 1997 were due to (a) cancer, (b) coronary heart disease and (c) falls. (156647)
	The latest year for which data are available is 2002. Figures for cancer, ischaemic (otherwise known as coronary) heart disease and falls in persons aged over 60 are shown in the attached table for each year from 1997 to 2002.
	
		Number of deaths from (a) cancer, (b) ischaemic heart disease, and (c) falls(19) in persons aged over 60(20), England and Wales, 1997 to 2002(21)
		
			 Calendar year (a) Cancer(22) (b) Ischaemic heart disease (c) Falls(23) 
		
		
			 1997 112,147 111,658 2,198 
			 1998 112,678 110,425 2,112 
			 1999 110,956 104,969 2,161 
			 2000 109,564 98,862 2,460 
			 2001(22) 112,711 96,532 2,058 
			 2002(22) 113,552 93,578 1,967 
		
	
	(19) The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9)for the years 1997 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) for 2001 and 2002. The codes used are listed below:
	CancerICD-9 140208; ICD-10 C00-C97;
	Ischaemic heart diseaseICD-9 410414; ICD-10 120125;
	FallsICD-9 E880-E888 excluding E887; ICD-10 W00-W19.
	(20) Persons aged 61 years and over.
	(21) Figures are based on deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	(22) The introduction of ICD-10 for coding cause of death in 2001 means that data for cancer are not completely comparable with data for years before this date. The data should therefore be interpreted with caution. The effect of the change in classification in 2001 on deaths from cancer is described in a report published in May 2002.*
	(23) The data for falls for 1997 to 2000 exclude fractures of unspecified cause (ICD-9 E887), so data for these years are comparable to those for 2001 onwards. The effect of the change in classification in 2001 on deaths from falls is described in an article published in August 2003.*
	* Office for National Statistics. Results of the ICD-10 bridge coding study, England and Wales, 1999. Health Statistics Quarterly 14 (2002), 7583.
	** Griffiths C and Rooney C. The effect of the introduction of ICD-10 on mortality from injury and poisoning in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 19 (2003), 1021.

Correspondence

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes dated 16 December 2003 concerning the interpretation of what constitutes a severe abnormality in relation to abortion laws.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 23 February 2004
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 6 February 2004.

Cycling

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the benefits of cycling to the health of the nation.

Melanie Johnson: The Department recommends that adults participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity, at least five days a week and that young people participate in physical activity of at least moderate intensity for one hour per day. Leisurely cycling (around 10 miles per hour) represents one way of meeting these recommendations.
	Regular cycling improves fitness significantly, reducing the risk of obesity, strokes, coronary heart disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis. There are also benefits for mental health, with evidence of reduced depression and stress, improved self-esteem and confidence in performing physical tasks.

Foundation Trusts

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 11 February, ref 153001, if he will place in the Library the guidance he issued to first wave NHS foundation trusts.

John Hutton: holding answer 23 February 2004
	Copies of the guidance and the model rules for elections to the board of governors of national health service foundation trusts have been placed in the Library.

GM Seed

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department has (a) given to and (b) received from the UK delegates attending European Commission regulatory standing and management committees on GM seed.

Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 140W.

Health Services (Worcestershire)

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of Malvern Community Hospital.

Stephen Ladyman: West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority (SHA) reports that South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust continues to be committed to the development of a new hospital in Malvern. The project team is currently working on a business case, which will be submitted to the SHA.

Health Visitors

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the vacancy rates are for health visitors in (a) Lambeth and (b) Sutton primary care trusts.

John Hutton: holding answer 24 February 2004
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2003: Vacancies in England and each specified NHS Trust for qualified health visiting staff, 3 month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			   March 2003 September 2002 
			   3 month vacancy rate (Percentage) 3 month vacancy (Number) Staff in post (Whole-time equivalent) Staff in post (Headcount) 
		
		
			 England  2.3 229 9,912 12,774 
			 Of which:  
			 5LD Lambeth PCT 0.0 0 78 89 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT 0.0 0 79 105 
		
	
	3 month vacancy notes:
	1. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2003.
	2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which Trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents).
	3. Three month Vacancy Rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	4. Three month Vacancy Rates for non-medical staff are calculated using staff in post from the Vacancy Survey, March 2003.
	5. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	Staff in post notes:
	1. Staff in post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2002.
	General notes:
	1. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	2. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.
	3. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
	Sources:
	Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2003.
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2002.

Mercury Healthcare

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer, 10 February, to Question reference 153276, whether Mercury Healthcare (a) are still involved in the negotiations and (b) are still the selected contractor.

John Hutton: holding answer 23 February 2004
	On Tuesday 17 February, the Department announced that preferred bidder status for the independent sector treatment centre 'spine chain'of which the treatment centre at Ashford is an integral parthad been switched from Mercury Healthcare to the reserve bidder, Capio UK.

Ministerial Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties.

Rosie Winterton: As of Wednesday 25 February 2004:
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health last travelled by train during the course of his official duties on Monday 23 February 2004, from London Euston to Birmingham New Street.
	My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Health (Mr. Hutton) last travelled by train during the course of his official duties on Tuesday 10 February 2004, from London Waterloo to Southampton.
	My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health (Miss Johnson) last travelled by train during the course of her official duties on Wednesday 25 February 2004, from London St. Pancras to Sheffield.
	My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health (Dr. Ladyman) last travelled by train during the course of his official duties on Thursday 12 February 2004 from London Kings Cross to Grantham.
	My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health (Lord Warner) last travelled by train during the course of his official duties on Wednesday 25 February 2004 from Birmingham New Street to London Euston.
	I last travelled by train during the course of my official duties on Tuesday 6 January 2004 from Ashford to London Charing Cross.
	All travel by Ministers on official business is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in 'Travel by Ministers'.

Neurologically Impaired Children

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the recommendation in the Chief Medical Officer's consultation paper Making Amends that support and compensation should be available to neurologically impaired babies, but that children with genetic or chromosomal abnormality would be excluded; and whether the recommendation would result in a difference in the support available to neurologically impaired children and their carers dependent on the cause of their neurological impairment.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is currently analysing the many responses that were received to the consultation on Making Amends. These responses and discussions with key stakeholders are informing the development of detailed policy, which we are aiming to publish later this year.

Nurses (London Boroughs)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the proportion of nurses per head of population was in each borough of London in each year since 1992.

John Hutton: holding answer 23 February 2004
	Data on the proportion of nurses per head of population is not held at borough area level. Data at strategic health authority area level from 1996 is shown in the table. This is the nearest alternative.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff including Practice Nurses employed by Unrestricted Principals and equivalents (UPEs)(24)in England, the London(25) area and each specified Strategic Health Authority area per one thousand of the population as at 30September(26) each specified year -- headcount per 1,000 population
		
			  1996 1997 1998(27) 1999(27) 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 England 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.9 7.1 7.4 
			 of which:
			 London(25) 7.6 7.6 7.7 7.9 7.7 7.9 8.2 
			 Q04 North West London SNA 8.1 8.2 8.4 9.1 8.0 8.6 8.9 
			 Q05 North Central London SHA 10.3 10.0 10.0 9.6 9.8 10.1 10.0 
			 Q06 North East London SHA 6.4 6.4 6.3 6.2 6.0 6.3 6.5 
			 Q07 South East London SHA 7.3 7.5 7.9 7.5 7.9 8.0 8.9 
			 Q08 South West London SHA 6.4 6.4 6.1 7.4 7.4 6.9 7.1 
		
	
	(24) UPEs include QMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs.
	(25) Figures for London are based on each specified Strategic Health Authority area.
	(26) Practice nurse figures are as at 1 October for 199799
	(27) Headcount Practice Nurse figures are estimated for these years.
	Note:
	The Royal Marsden NHS Trust has been included with South West London Strategic Health Authority. 19962001 data is estimated based on 2002 organisational structure. Figures are rounded to one decimal place
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics
	Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Nursing Care Contributions Fees

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the first annual review of registered nursing care contributions fees; and for what reason the review has not yet been published.

Stephen Ladyman: The revised monetary values attached to national health service-funded nursing care from April 2004, depending on level of need, are as follows:
	Low band40 per week (remains the same).
	Medium band77.50 per week (increased from 75 per week).
	High band125 per week (increased from 120 per week).
	On a case-by-case basis, primary care trusts will be able to agree an amount between 40 per week and the medium band, depending on the individual's needs.

Out-of-hours Service

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the operation of out-of-hours work for general practitioners from 1 April in North Yorkshire.

Melanie Johnson: In common with primary care trusts (PCTs) nationally, PCTs in North Yorkshire are currently working with their local general practitioners and other organisations to develop new arrangements for out of hours services in line with the new general medical services contract and which meet the needs of their local population for a high quality, sustainable out-of-hours service.

Pension Schemes

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rights exist for NHS employees to transfer their pensions from schemes run by previous employers to the NHS pension scheme; what restrictions exist, with particular regard to length of remaining service with the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 23 February 2004
	Members of the national health service pension scheme may transfer pension benefits from a previous pension scheme into the NHS scheme. Members wishing to do so must make an application within 12 months of joining the NHS pension scheme and before age 60.

School Nurses

Gillian Shephard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what part in community nursing teams is played by school nurses.

John Hutton: holding answer 9 February 2004
	School nurses deliver health services to the school aged population with a focus on health promotion and preventing ill health. They are generally employed by primary care trusts and work closely with visitors, child health services, social care and education.
	Alongside their community nursing colleagues, school nurses will identify the health needs of the population and deliver public health and health care interventions that address local and national priorities.

SunSmart Scheme

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how he intends to increase the profile of (a) the issue of skin cancer and (b) methods of effective sun protection through the SunSmart scheme;
	(2)  how much funding will be provided for the SunSmart campaign for summer 2004;
	(3)  what account the SunSmart campaign will take of tanning shops.

Melanie Johnson: A new sun awareness initiative, the SunSmart campaign, was launched in March 2003, funded by United Kingdom Health Departments and run by Cancer Research UK.
	The campaign is based on the successful SunSmart campaign in Australia. The campaign has received interim funding of 50,000 this year from the UK Health Departments. Decisions on further funding for SunSmart will be made in due course.
	The campaign's aim is to increase the profile of the issue of skin cancer and methods of effective sun protection. The key objectives are to increase knowledge of the causes of skin cancer, to increase awareness of actions that can be taken to prevent skin cancer and to influence positively attitudes to sun protection.
	Wide dissemination of SunSmart messages will be achieved through the media and by supporting education and health professionals locally. The campaign is working with the Department for Education and Skills and teachers to develop guidelines to encourage schools to adopt their own SunSmart policies and curricular activities.
	Tanning shops and the potential dangers involved in the use of sunbeds will be the subject of a meeting of experts and industry hosted by SunSmart on 29 March. The campaign will review the latest scientific evidence and to develop practical recommendations for better self-regulation.
	SunSmart achieved mass media coverage for skin cancer issues in 2003, reaching 76 per cent. of UK adults, and will use similar techniques this spring/summer to keep skin cancer high profile with the public.
	In addition to the SunSmart campaign, we continue to fund the Meteorological Office to provide the Ultra-Violet index in the media (television, radio, Meteorological Office website).
	The Department also provides core funding to the National Radiological Protection Board, which has expertise on ultra-violet radiation issues relevant to the public health aspects of the prevention of skin cancer.

Tuberculosis

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new cases of tuberculosis were diagnosed in London in each year since 1995.

John Hutton: holding answer 23 February 2004
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	Data on tuberculosis notifications are available from the Health Protection Agency at http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics az/tb/epidemiology/table5.htm.
	
		
			  Tuberculosis notifications in London 
		
		
			 1995 2,042 
			 1996 2,190 
			 1997 2,411 
			 1998 2,444 
			 1999 2,493 
			 2000 2,834 
			 2001 2,886 
			 2002 2,850

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Skilled Workers

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the supply of skilled workers in key areas, with particular reference to (a) the construction industry, (b) plumbing, (c) the NHS and (d) the education system.

David Miliband: The Skills Strategy (published in July 2003) set out our plans for identifying skill needs across the economy.
	In relation to the particular areas highlighted:
	The construction industry and plumbing
	Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are being established to identify and define the skills that employers need to raise productivity in all major sectors of the economy. Construction is one of four sectors pioneering new Sector Skills Agreements to deliver on this agenda.
	Construction was highlighted as a priority curriculum area in Success for All: Our Vision for the Future the Government's strategy for reforming further education and training published in November 2002.
	The 2003 National Employers Skills Survey shows the construction sector as having a relatively high number of skill shortage vacancies per employee in comparison to other sectors.
	Forecast future requirements in the construction sector are of an annual net requirement between 2003 and 2007 of 54,000 construction workers and 6,000 plumbers. This is to replace both an ageing workforce and to meet an expansion of the sector.
	Supply is expected to meet this increased future demand. In 2001/02 there were 49,000 vocational awards for construction and 11,000 for plumbing while the number of first-year construction trainees increased for the fifth year running in 2002/03.
	The NHS
	The NHS Plan acknowledged that shortages in human resources were the biggest constraint facing the NHS and set ambitious targets for increasing the NHS workforce. By March 2004 there will be 7,500 more consultants, 2,000 more GPs, 20,000 more nurses and 6,500 more therapists and other health professionals employed in the NHS than in 1999.
	Furthermore, Delivering the NHS Plan included expected increases in the NHS work force. Between 2001 and 2008, we expect there to be increases of 35,000 nurses and midwives, 15,000 consultants and GPs and 30,000 therapists and scientists.
	The education system
	The Secretary of State for Education and Skills is responsible for ensuring an adequate supply of school teachers. Since 1997 there has been an increase of nearly 25,000 regular teachers in maintained schools in England. Recent improvements in recruitment to initial teacher training and innovative ways of remodelling the work forcewith support staff helping teachers to use their professional skills to greatest effectmean that supply is expected to continue to be sufficient. Alongside rising teacher numbers, there is also evidence of improving teacher quality.
	The DfES liaises regularly with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to ensure that the supply of teaching and learning is not adversely affected by labour shortage.
	In addition, the DfES has responsibilityfollowing the publication of the Green Paper, Every Child Mattersfor children's services more broadly, including social care, and is currently developing its evidence base on the wider children's work force.

Adult Learning

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been made available for adult learning in further education colleges for each year since 1997.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		Adult participation funding(including additional learning support)
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199798 1,296 
			 199899 1,321 
			 19992000 1,346 
			 200001 1,485 
			 200102 1,608 
			 200203 1,733 
		
	
	These figures represent allocations made to further education colleges funded by the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) until 200001, and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) from 200102.

Business Skills Education

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what his Department's policy is on teaching business and entrepreneurial skills to primary school children; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what funding his Department is giving to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Staffordshire and (ii) Stoke-on-Trent to improve the business skills of school pupils; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what his Department's funding for business and entrepreneurial skills has been for each of the last 10 years in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what his Department's budget is in 200304 for the funding of business skills education in primary education; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what his Department's future programmes are for improving business and entrepreneurial skills in (a) primary school children and (b) secondary school children; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: Business and enterprise are covered within the Citizenship curriculum, which is compulsory in secondary schools. For example, 14 to 16-year-old pupils are taught about how the economy functions, including the role of business and financial services.
	The non-statutory framework for Personal, Social and Health Education, provides for personal finance education to be taught in both primary and secondary schools, allowing teachers to cover the wide range of topics as set out in the Department's Financial Capability through Personal Financial Education guidance for schools. This helps to provide children with the skills they need to move into adulthood, confident in their ability to deal effectively with a range of financial decisions. We do not disaggregate the funding schools spend on different elements of curriculum subjects.
	From 2005/06 a new 60 million Enterprise Education entitlement will provide all Key Stage 4 pupils with the equivalent of five days enterprise activity which will develop enterprise capabilityincluding personal financial capability as well as business understanding. 151 Pathfinder projects began in nearly 400 secondary schools in September 2003. They will help DfES to develop additional guidance including case studies and lesson plans. Fair Oak High School, Walton High School in Staffordshire and Blurton High School in Stoke-on-Trent, are Enterprise Pathfinder schools, receiving some 34,000 between them in the financial year 200304.

Child Removals

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills further to the Appeal Court judgment in the R v. Cannings case, what specific action he has initiated to review the cases of children removed from their parents in the family courts which have involved expert witness testimony from (a) Professor Sir Roy Meadow and (b) others on the expert witness list for (i) their expertise in Munchausen's syndrome by proxy and (ii) causing child death by shaking.

Margaret Hodge: I made a statement to the House on 23 February 2004, following the Appeal Court's judgment in the appeal against the conviction of Angela Cannings. In this statement I announced the action that I have asked local authorities with social services responsibilities to take.
	First, for them to consider those cases which are affected by the Attorney-General's Review. In those cases, councils should stand ready to act in the light of the outcome of that review.
	Secondly, within the next four weeks, for councils to identify and make their best efforts to review current cases. These are cases where they have commenced care proceedings in relation to a child and where the court has not yet made a final care order. In these cases councils should consider with their lawyers the implications, for those proceedings, of the Court of Appeal's judgment in the Cannings case.
	Thirdly, within the next 12 weeks social services should, together with their lawyers, identify those cases where a final care order was made in the past, which involved harm to the child or a sibling, and where the making of the care order depended, exclusively or almost exclusively, on a serious disagreement between medical experts about the cause of the harm. In such cases, councils should again consider, with their lawyers, whether there are now doubts about the reliability of the expert medical evidence. If that is so and, in the light of the child's current circumstances and current best interests, they should then consider whether to apply to the court for the care order to be discharged, or whether to support any application that may be made by the parents or the child. Councils, when reviewing cases, will also need to take into account any fresh case law judgments from the appeal court that may be relevant.
	Where applications to the court are made, whether by the local authority, the parents or the child it will be for the court to decide, in all cases, if the care order should be discharged.
	My statement set out a route forward for the period ahead within the limits of my ability to act. With this review and with the current and forthcoming judgments in both care proceedings and appeal cases in the courts we will ensure that we are acting in the best way possible to protect the interests of children both today and in the future.

Children Act

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will publish his final response to the Children Act Sub-Committee Report, Making Contact Work; and what the reasons are for the delay in publishing the response.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 26 February 2004
	The Children Act Sub-Committee published its report Making Contact Work in February 2002. The then Lord Chancellor's Department published its interim response in August 2002. Following the Machinery of Government changes last year, I now have lead responsibility for child contact issues.
	I have, together with my hon. Friends in the Department for Constitutional Affairs, been working carefully to consider how the family justice system and related children's services can better meet the needs of all children and their parents following relationship breakdown. We want to ensure that better outcomes are achieved for children by, where possible, helping parents agree contact arrangements without the intervention of the courts. We have also consulted widely with stakeholders and drawn on their expertise. I expect to publish the Government's response in March.

Children's Fund

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  by what amount the Children's Fund was over-committed in financial year 200304;
	(2)  how much he estimates the Children's Fund will be over-committed in (a) 200405 and (b) 200506;
	(3)  how much money has been saved by reductions to the (a) 200405 and (b) 200506 allocations to the Children's Fund.

Margaret Hodge: The Children's Fund was over-committed by 14.6 million in 200304 on an allocation of 150 million. It had a projected over-commitment of the same amount for 200405 and 200506.
	We have not made cuts to the Children's Fund in 200405 and 200506, indeed I expect to have spent more than the 450 million set aside for the Children's Fund by the end of 200506. Following discussions with the Children's Fund advisory forum of key stakeholders in the programme, we have agreed revised allocations to partnerships for 200405, together with a package of flexibilities that will ensure that the programme lives within its financial limits while honouring its commitments. We will be having a comprehensive dialogue about 200506 with partnerships and key partners in the programme over the next few weeks, with final decisions to be taken in autumn 2004 informed by that dialogue and the outcome of the Spending Review.

Class Sizes

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size in English primary schools is; what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing a maximum average class size of 25; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: The average class size in English primary schools at January 2003 was 26.3. This relates to one teacher classes only.
	The Department has not made any estimate of the cost of introducing a maximum average class size of 25.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the progress of the Connexions service towards meeting its target of reducing by one tenth the number of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training by one tenth by November 2004.

Margaret Hodge: The Connexions Service is making good progress towards the target of reducing the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training. In November 2003, Connexions Partnerships estimated that the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training had fallen by 8 per cent. in established phase 1 and 2 Partnership areas, and 3 per cent. overall taking the new phase 3 areas into account, during the past year.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training there were in each month since the Connexions service was established.

Margaret Hodge: The number of 16 to 18-year-olds known not to be in education, employment or training in each month since the Connexions Service was established is shown in the following table. The year-on-year increases in numbers recorded as being not in education employment or training change because of the phased roll out of Connexions Partnerships in 200203. The national data increases as each Partnership becomes operational. In November 2003, Connexions Partnerships estimated that the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training had fallen by 3 per cent. overall during the previous year.
	
		Number of 16 to 18-year-olds known by the Connexions Service not to be in education, employment or training
		
			  2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 January  45,215 133,089 
			 February  44,808 130,399 
			 March  45,628 126,684 
			 April 24,747 61,502 103,543 
			 May 23,331 60,329 97,479 
			 June 24,794 62,577 87,808 
			 July 28,737 64,865 88,017 
			 August 30,469 65,284 87,091 
			 September 45,692 118,081 117,487 
			 October 44,989 130,083 114,687 
			 November 44,095 131,906 109,198 
			 December 44,164 126,423 101,771 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Connexions Partnerships were rolled out over two years, with the first 15 Partnerships going live in 2001; 13 becoming operational between April and June 2002 and 16 between September and November 2002. The three remaining Partnerships became operational in 2003.
	2. Data for April 2001 to March 2002 is for 16 to 19-year-olds. Data for 1618 year olds was not available.
	3. The number of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training increases in September each year as summer school leavers enter the labour market for the first time.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether it is his Department's policy to assess the impact of the Connexions service upon previously existing services for young people.

Margaret Hodge: The impact of Connexions on previously existing services has been tested through a survey of 'stakeholders'individuals and representatives of partner organisations on the Connexions Partnership Boards and Local Management Committees (e.g. local authorities, the police, health and social services, voluntary and community organisations and employers).
	The survey of local partners in January 2003 found that a large majority (83 per cent.) believed that the objectives of Connexions were consistent with those of their own organisation and over 60 per cent. agreed that Connexions helped their organisation meet its own targets and objectives. Nearly eight out of 10 local partners thought that joint working between agencies providing services to young people in their areas was effective compared with 40 per cent. prior to the establishment of Connexions Partnerships.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Connexions clients there are, broken down by (a) social class and (b) ethnic origin.

Margaret Hodge: Information on the social class of Connexions clients is not collected by Connexions Partnerships.
	Information on the ethnic origin of Connexions clients of compulsory education age (i.e. those in school years 811) is not collected by Connexions Partnerships. Information on the ethnic origin of those Connexions clients who have completed school year 11 in 2003 or earlier is collected by Partnerships and is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Connexions clients who are of post compulsory education age (December 2003) 2,300,364 
			 White total 1,699,787 
			 White British 1,545,354 
			 White Irish 5,464 
			 Other white background 59,824 
			 White not known 89,145 
			 White and black Caribbean 7,129 
			 Mixed race total 24,009 
			 White and Black African 2,683 
			 White and Asian 5,317 
			 Other mixed background 8,880 
			   
			 Black or black British total 74,018 
			 Black Caribbean 28,869 
			 Black African 27,335 
			 Other black background 17,814 
			   
			 Asian or Asian British total 132,021 
			 Indian 51,182 
			 Pakistani 49,063 
			 Bangladeshi 19,467 
			   
			 Other Asian background 12,309 
			 Chinese 8,643 
			 Other 44,876 
			 No ethnic information 317,010

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost of marketing the Connexions service has been in each year since its establishment.

Margaret Hodge: Since the establishment of the Connexions service in April 2001, the breakdown of spend on marketing and advertising for each year of its existence is as follows:
	
		
			  (28)Marketing and advertising 
		
		
			 200102 889,073 
			 200203 (29)3,266,489 
			 200304 (total committed to beginning February) (30)3,241,000 
		
	
	(28) i.e. radio, cinema, TV advertising, campaign extension, Connexions publications, conferences)
	(29) Includes 226,850 for Connexions Direct
	(30) Includes 60,317 for Connexions Direct
	This breakdown is for central budgets only. Data is collected centrally on the broad areas of Partnerships' expenditure but not at a level detailed enough to enable identification of how much has been spent on marketing and advertising.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff are employed by the Connexions service, broken down by (a) job title and (b) area partnership.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 12 February 2004
	The following table shows the total number of staff employed by each Connexions Partnership in December 2003. Information on the number of staff employed by each Connexions Partnership by job title is not available.
	Figures are expressed as full-time equivalent posts.
	
		
			  Total 
		
		
			 England 14,071.1 
			   
			 South East 2,163.2 
			 Berkshire 157.6 
			 South Central 862.1 
			 Kent 268.7 
			 Milton Keynes Ox and Bucks 261.2 
			 Surrey 140.6 
			 Sussex 473.0 
			 London 1,691.3 
			 Central London 390.5 
			 North London 250.6 
			 South London 229.0 
			 East London 455.8 
			 West London 365.4 
			   
			 East of England 1,060.2 
			 Bedfordshire and Luton 123.7 
			 Cambs and Peterborough 163.6 
			 Essex Southend and Thurrock 293.5 
			 Hertfordshire 198.8 
			 Norfolk 134.0 
			 Suffolk 146.6 
			   
			 South West 1,146.1 
			 Bournemouth Dorset and Poole 128.8 
			 Cornwall and Devon 362.3 
			 Gloucestershire 102.6 
			 Somerset 138.3 
			 West of England 302.1 
			 Wiltshire and Swindon 112.0 
			   
			 West Midlands 1,901.3 
			 Birmingham and Solihull 457.4 
			 Black Country 372.9 
			 Coventry and Warwick 285.2 
			 Hereford and Worcester 296.3 
			 Shropshire Telford and Wrekin 160.2 
			 Staffordshire 329.3 
			   
			 East Midlands 1,096.4 
			 Derbyshire 284.9 
			 Leicestershire 222.5 
			 Lincolnshire and Rutland 188.1 
			 Northamptonshire 135.9 
			 Nottinghamshire 265.0 
			   
			 Yorks and Humber 2,043.7 
			 Humber 329.4 
			 York and North Yorkshire 132.2 
			 South Yorkshire 417.3 
			 West Yorkshire 1,164.8 
			   
			 North West 2,092.7 
			 Cheshire and Warrington 249.6 
			 Cumbria 201.6 
			 Greater Manchester 816.8 
			 Greater Merseyside 401.3 
			 Lancashire 423.4 
			   
			 North East 876.2 
			 County Durham 168.5 
			 Northumberland 89.4 
			 Tees Valley 245.0 
			 Tyne and Wear 373.3 
		
	
	Source:
	NEXUS Data at December 2003.

Consultants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the consultants being used in the current financial year to assist in the implementation of his schools strategy.

David Miliband: This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Consultants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the consultants used by his Department in 200203 where the expenditure exceeded 1,000,000.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 27 February 2004
	This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Criminal Records Bureau

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what procedures are in place for carrying out Criminal Records Bureau checks on (a) overseas teachers and (b) other overseas workers coming to work in schools in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 9 February 2004
	My Department's guidance to employers in the education service about pre-appointment checks on teachers and other workers in schools advises that, if a person who they intend to appoint to work in a school has never lived in the UK, no purpose will be served by asking them to apply for a disclosure when they come to this country.
	The Criminal Records Bureau is not able to obtain details of a person's criminal record from overseas. A limited number of overseas convictions are recorded on the Police national computer, but the data is not comprehensive.
	The Bureau's Overseas Information Service provides advice to employers on the availability of criminal record information from overseas. The service currently covers 17 countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Irish Republic, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Italy (excluding Vatican City) and Finland). The CRB is in discussions with the 10 accession countries to the European Union and aims to provide information through the Overseas Information Service about the criminal record information available from these countries within the next few months.
	Where criminal record information is not available, we recommend that employers take extra care in taking up references and carrying out other checks on a person's background.

Drugs Education

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what letters of concern his Department has received from the Home Office on the issue of personal advisers on drugs education;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the provision of drugs education in schools in 2004 following the abolition of the standards fund;
	(3)  what meetings on drugs education Ministers in his Department have held with ministerial colleagues from the Department of Health and the Home Department since September 2003;
	(4)  how many personal advisers working on drugs education in secondary and primary schools are to be made redundant owing to the removal of the standards fund; and what plans there are to replace their specialist input;
	(5)  how many personal advisers work in the classroom on drugs education; and what the figures were in 2002.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 25 February 2004
	In line with Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice, confidential communications between Departments is not made public. It is not normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings or their content as some of these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis.
	The Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) will continue to be responsible for evaluating and reporting on the school's polices and practice in drug education within personal, social and health education (PSHE) and citizenship provision as part of the school inspection process. In addition, Ofsted surveys the quantity and quality of drug education in schools on behalf of the Department. The next data collection exercise will take place during the Summer Term 2004 and report in the Autumn.
	The Department does not collect data on the number of School Drug Adviser redundancies or how many school Drug Advisers work in the classroom on drug education. Their principal role is to support schools in planning and implementing effective policy and practice on drug issues rather than direct classroom delivery.
	From April 2004, our main focus will be on supporting teachers' professional development. The PSHE certification programme, which sets standards for the teaching of PSHE and certificates those who meet the standards, will be rolled-out to 3,000 teachers.
	Young people will continue to receive advice and support on drug issues from schools, the Connexions Service and a range of local agencies.

Early Years Education

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with local authorities on meeting the statutory requirement to provide free early education for each three and four-year-old by April and the role of private day nursery providers in this; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Funding has been made available for expanding three year old provision since 1999, building to universal provision by April 2004. During this period local authorities have been encouraged, through published guidance, to grow provision taking into account local demand and social need and using a mixture of maintained, independent, voluntary and private providers to support parental choice.

Early Years Education

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether it is his policy to phase out private providers for the nursery education grant scheme; and if he will make a statement.[R]

Margaret Hodge: This Government greatly values the contribution made by the thousands of private, voluntary and independent sector providers and is determined that they should continue to play a full part in the provision of early years education and child care.

Early Years Education

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he will take to ensure the continuity of provision of private sector nursery education for 3 and 4-year-olds, under the nursery education grant scheme in relatively isolated communities which currently have a single private provider, where that provider withdraws as a result of the withdrawal of the ring-fencing of funds to local authorities.[R]

Margaret Hodge: From 1 April 2004 local authorities will be under a statutory duty to provide sufficient nursery education for all three and 4-year-olds in their area. Local authorities have been encouraged through published guidance, to grow provision using a mixture of Maintained, Independent, Voluntary and Private providers to support parental choice and take into account the needs of children and families.

Education Funding

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money was spent on school buildings in the Blackpool, North and Fleetwood constituency in each year since 1997, broken down by school.

David Miliband: The majority of capital support is allocated to schools and local education authorities (LEAs) by formula, and they decide how to invest it in line with the priorities of their asset management plans. The Department does not, therefore, have complete information about capital investment in individual schools. This information should be held locally. However, the following table shows the total capital support made available by this Government for school buildings in Blackpool LEA since 199899 when Blackpool became a unitary authority.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199899 2.6 
			 19992000 4.0 
			 200001 6.9 
			 200102 8.3 
			 200203 6.6 
			 200304 17.0 
		
	
	We have to date also allocated indicative funding for future years worth approximately 14.4 million in 200405, and 5.8 million in 200506.

Education Funding

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what capital funding has been received by Rochdale Council Education Department since 1996; which schools benefited from additional capital investment in each year; how much funding each school received; and how the funding has been spent.

David Miliband: The majority of capital support is allocated to schools and local education authorities (LEAs) by formula, and they decide how to invest it in line with the priorities of their asset management plans. The Department does not, therefore, have completeinformation about capital investment in individual schools. This information should be held locally. However, the following table shows the total capital support made available by this Government for school buildings in Rochdale LEA since 199697.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199697 1.0 
			 199798 2.9 
			 199899 4.7 
			 19992000 2.8 
			 200001 6.1 
			 200102 7.1 
			 200203 7.9 
			 200304 12.0 
		
	
	We have to date also allocated indicative funding for future years worth approximately 69 million in 200405 including 56 million of PFI credits, and 4.4 million in 200506.

Educational Achievement

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils achieved three grade As or above at A-level in each of the last five years.

David Miliband: The percentage of 16 to 18-year-old A-level candidates achieving at least three A grades at A-level over the last five years in all schools and colleges in England:
	
		
			  Percentage of 16 to 18-year-old A-level candidates achieving at least three A grades at A-level 
		
		
			 1999 7.0 
			 2000 7.4 
			 2001 7.4 
			 2002 7.9 
			 2003 8.3

EU Accession Countries

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the children of citizens of EU accession countries working in the United Kingdom will (a) be permitted to attend without charge state (i) schools, (ii) colleges and (iii) universities, (b) qualify for free school meals, (c) qualify for assistance with travel costs to and from school and (d) qualify for assistance in providing school uniforms.

Stephen Twigg: Children of citizens of EU accession countries working in the UK will have access to schools when their parents enter the UK.
	Generally, students from the accession countries in colleges and universities will be entitled to receive education at the home student fee rate from the beginning of the 2004/05 academic year, in the same way as current EU students. Young people aged 1619 in further education with home fee status are exempt from tuition fees.
	Registered pupils in schools maintained by a local education authority, whose parents are in receipt of the following support payments, are entitled to receive free school meals:
	Income Support (IS);
	Income Based Job Seekers Allowance (IBJSA);
	support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
	Child Tax Credit provided they do not receive Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by The Inland Revenue) which does not exceed 13,230.
	Children who receive IS or IBJSA in their own right are also eligible to receive free school meals.
	(c) Free transport is always necessary for a pupil of compulsory school age (516) who attends the nearest suitable school if it is beyond statutory walking distance. These are two miles for pupils aged up to eight and three miles for those aged eight and over. This is measured by the shortest route along which a child, accompanied as necessary, may walk with reasonable safety.
	(d) The payment of grants for uniform or clothing is at the discretion of each local education authority, and they determine the eligibility criteria and the amount of any such support.

Family Courts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Educaiton and Skills what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time is for care proceedings in family courts.

Christopher Leslie: The average time taken for a care case to pass through a Care Centre, which deals with the more complex cases, was 52.5 weeks in December. The average time taken for a care case to pass through a Family Proceedings Court (FPC), which deals with about half of all cases of this type, is lower. Centrally held data does not record the longest waiting time. More complete and accurate figures for both FPCs and Care Centres will be available by the end of March.

Home Assessment Visits

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average waiting time is in Gloucestershire for a home assessment visit by Ofsted when a person in receipt of child tax credit or working tax credit needs their home to be assessed as this is the place where their children are being looked after rather than the home of the child minder.

Margaret Hodge: The Home Childcarer Scheme allows registered childminders to gain an additional approval to care for children in the children's home. This approval process does not involve an assessment of the children's home, where the carer is already registered by Ofsted as a child minder.

Information Sharing

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has for new information referral and tracking systems; and how these will work sub-regionally to allow for effective information sharing on children and families who move across different local authorities.

Margaret Hodge: The Queen's Speech said that a Bill will be introduced to improve services designed to protect children. This will implement proposals contained in the Children's Green Paper Every Child Matters, and, subject to consideration of responses to the Green Paper consultation, will include proposals for information sharing systems to enable practitioners to share early information about children and young people where this will enable better services to be provided to them and their families.
	Information sharing systems must have the capacity to link together to ensure that children moving between local authority areas do not slip through the net. The Government have provided 1 million each to ten trailblazers, involving 15 local authorities, to test new ways of information sharing. The trailblazers are examining the important issue of linking databases and their experiences will inform subsequent developments.

Minister for Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for which funding schemes the Minister for Children is responsible.

Margaret Hodge: Table A which sets out funding schemes where I have responsibility is as follows. It has been drawn from last year's Departmental Report and includes Sure Start, which is a cross-government programme where I work closely with Baroness Catherine Ashton who is the Minister for Sure Start in both the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions. Table B is an extract from the Local Authority Social Services Letter, LASSL (2003) 7, and sets out the schemes that have transferred from the Department of Health to become my responsibility. In addition to these schemes the Home Office has transferred Family Grants, including Parentline, The Department for Constitutional Affairs has transferred Marriage and Relationship Support (MARS) grants, and Treasury have transferred the Parenting Fund.
	
		Table A: Extract from Table 3.2 in the Departmental Report 2003
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 Early Years and Child Care  
			  Sure Start 
			 Support for Young People  
			  Connexions Service Neighbourhood Support Fund Millennium Volunteers Youth Services Children's Fund 
		
	
	
		Table B: Extract from the Local Authority Social Services Letter, LASSL(2003)7 Local Authority provided Children's Services
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 Unhypothecated Revenue  
			  Formula Spending  
			  Safeguarding Children 
			 Ring fenced Revenue Grants  
			  Quality Protects  
			  Adoption Support and Special Guardianship 
			  Choice Protects 
			  Children's Trusts 
			  Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation 
			  Regional Development Workers 
			  Secure Accommodation (Bed Bank) 
			 Capital  
			  SCE(R) Single Capital pot  
			  Secure Accommodation Grant 
			  Children's Services

Munchausen's Syndrome

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he was first informed of children being wrongfully removed from their parents owing to misdiagnosis of Munchausen's syndrome by proxy; and when he was first informed that Munchausen's syndrome by proxy was responsible for serious miscarriages of justice.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 30 January 2004
	We are not aware of any such situations. Local authorities have a duty to make inquiries where a child is thought to be at risk of significant harm, following Government guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children.
	Where a local authority should seek a Care Order in respect of a child, it will be for the courts to decide if this is appropriate.
	However, I would refer you to the statement that I made to the House on 23 February 2004, in which I set out the action that I asked local authorities with social services responsibilities to take following the Appeal Court's judgment in the appeal against the conviction of Angela Cannings.

North Korea

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to promote academic links between the United Kingdom and North Korea.

Alan Johnson: The Department for Education and Skills has no plans to promote academic links with North Korea.

Postgraduate Education

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people (a) applied for places on Post Graduate Certificate in Education courses, (b) were offered a place on a course and (c) successfully completed the course; in each year since 1990.

David Miliband: Data on the number of people offered places on Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses is not collected. The following table shows the numbers of PGCE applicants in each year since 1991/92 and the number of candidates who accepted the offer of a place in each year since 1996/97. These are the earliest years for which this information is available. The number of entrants to PGCE courses is also shown.
	
		
			  Applications(31) Acceptances(31) Entrants(32) 
		
		
			  England and Wales 
			 1990/91   11,960 
			 1991/92 24,870  15,050 
			 1992/93 31,130  16,500 
			 1993/94 33,650  17,690 
			 1994/95 31,640  19,090 
			 1995/96 33,250  19,330 
			 1996/97 33,240 18,000 19,720 
			 1997/98 33,300 20,430 19,480 
			 1998/99 31,640 19,020 18,790 
			 1999/2000 33,060 19,770 18,880 
			 2000/01 34,860 20,990 21,190 
			   
			 England
			 2001/02 37,960 20,040 21,260 
			 2002/03 42,570 22,710 23,320 
			 2003/04 46,710 25,350 25,780 
		
	
	Source:
	(31) Graduate Teacher Training Registry
	(32) DFE Recruitment Survey 1990/91 to 1993/94; HESES 1994/95; TTA Survey of ITT Providers 1995/96 to 2003/04
	Note:
	Excludes Fast TrackData for these years not available
	The number of candidates who successfully completed PGCE courses in each calendar year from 1990 to 2002, the most recent available, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Year of completion Completers 
		
		
			 England and Wales(33)  
			 1990 9,600 
			 1991 10,380 
			 1992 13,460 
			 1993 15,110 
			 1994 16,130 
			 1995 17,330 
			 1996 16,900 
			 1997 17,780 
			 1998 17,150 
			 1999 16,500 
			 2000 16,160 
			   
			 England (34)  
			 2000 14,850 
			 2001 16,150 
			 2002 16,940 
		
	
	Source:
	(33) DfES Database of Teacher Records
	(34) TTA Performance Profiles

Postgraduate Education

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to widen participation in postgraduate education.

Alan Johnson: The government are already investing significant sums in widening access to higher education, which will also increase the supply of potential postgraduate students. The additional funding available for science and research (up 1.25 million by 2005/06 compared to 2003/04) will also increase the volume of research and opportunities for postgraduate study. Financial support for postgraduate study is available through the Career Development Loan Scheme which is administered by my Department.

Pre-School Play Groups

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many women are employed in the management and operation of pre-school play groups; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 26 February 2004
	According to the latest available data in the 2001 Childcare Workforce Survey, there were 79,800 paid employees in playgroups and preschools. Of these 14,000 were managers, 18,340 supervisors with 47,460 other workers.
	99 per cent. of paid employees were female. We do not know the gender split for managers and supervisors.

Random Drug Testing

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received supporting the drugs testing of school children; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: The Department has received a number of representations supporting the drug testing of pupils.
	Drugs: Guidance for Schools highlights drug testing as one of a range of options available to headteachers to tackle drugs. The guidance spells out the issues schools should consider before employing drug testing, including gaining appropriate consent. The guidance will be sent to all schools on 9 March.

Retention Measures

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures are in place to encourage retention of workers in the (a) engineering and (b) manufacturing fields.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government's Manufacturing Strategy, which we developed in partnership with industry, trade unions and other stakeholders, aims to create a high value manufacturing sector in the UK with a highly skilled and well paid workforce, moving away from competing on the basis of low skill and low wages. We are continuing to develop a range of initiatives under the Skills Strategy such as employer training pilots, modern apprenticeships, the growing network of Sector Skills Councils and other measures to better deploy and retain skills to improve business performance.
	Where there are significant redundancies in the manufacturing sector, the Rapid Response Service works to move people quickly into new jobs, preventing them from becoming detached from the labour market. Although a trend to declining manufacturing employment has been a feature of advanced economies over the last 30 years, new jobs are still being created all the time. Around 250,000 manufacturing vacancies were reported to Jobcentre plus in the last year. Overall the UK labour market is performing well, with total employment rising by nearly 1.7 million since Spring 1997, and unemployment falling in every region in Britain over the past year.

School Meals

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils in England are (i) eligible for and (ii) taking up free school meals, broken down by region.

David Miliband: holding answer 26 February 2004
	The data requested have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

School Sports Facilities

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what submissions have been made by his Department to the Activity Co-ordination Team regarding making school sports facilities accessible to the community during school holidays.

Stephen Twigg: The Department for Education and Skills is a full and active member of the Activity Co-ordination Team. The Department is responsible for developing the education strand within the team's action plan. This will seek to maximise the benefits from opening up school sports facilities for community use, including during school holidays. The Activity Co-ordination Team will publish its action plan later this year.

School Sports Facilities

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage schools to extend access to their sports facilities through the extended schools programme.

Stephen Twigg: The Department for Education and Skills published extended schools guidance in October 2002. The guidance covers a range of practical issues, including information and advice on providing community access to sports facilities. A copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	The Department has made funding available to support local coordination and management of extended services in schools, and to create up to 240 full service extended schools, with at least one in each LEA area, by 2006. These schools will provide a prescribed core range of extended services and facilities, including sports and arts facilities.
	In addition, the national PE, School Sport and Club Links strategy aims to increase the percentage of five to 16-year-olds who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75 per cent. by 2006. The strategy promotes the extended use of school sports facilities, for example the Sport Partnerships programme is delivering increased out of school hours sports opportunities. Schools benefiting from the 686 million investment in the New Opportunities for PE and Sport and the Space for Sport and the Arts capital programmes are required to demonstrate how the new school sports facilities can be shared with other schools and opened up for community use.

School Sports Facilities

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools have specialist sports status; and how they are being monitored to ensure they open their sports facilities to the wider community out-of-hours;
	(2)  which specialist schools open their sports facilities to the wider community out-of-hours.

Stephen Twigg: There are 228 Specialist Sports Colleges across the country. We also have three Sports Academies with another one opening in September. A further 30 Sports Colleges have been approved already for this year, and we are expecting more applications for Sports College status in the March application round.
	All Specialist Schools have a community plan which spells out their commitment to their wider communities. Sports Colleges generally include the provision of out-of-hours and weekend coaching and club sports events, and these are monitored through the regular submission of progress reports to this Department. In addition, the Youth Sport Trust commissions in-depth annual reports on Sports Colleges which survey their community activities as well as their curricular and whole-school performance.

School Sports Facilities

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which universities allow use of their sports facilities by the wider community.

Richard Caborn: I have been asked to reply.
	All universities allow the use of their sports facilities by the wider community, although the degree to which they do so varies enormously. Sport England have commissioned a piece of research into sports provision in higher education institutions which will cover community usage of university sports facilities. The 'Audit of Sports Provision in the Higher Education Sector' will be launched on 23 March 2004.

Special Educational Needs

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment the Government has made of the cost of education of children with special education needs (a) with and (b) without statements.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 27 February 2004
	Figures for the costs of education of children with special education needs (SEN) with and without statements are not collected separately. However, it is possible to provide information about the overall expenditure on the education of children with SEN and to show the split of that expenditure between mainstream and special schools.
	The total estimated cost of providing special needs education in 200304 is 3,464,836,204. Of this, it is estimated that 1,717,253,601 will be spent on pupils in mainstream schools, in addition to their normal place funding. An estimated 1,511,349,567 will be spent on pupils in special schools. This includes pupils in maintained special schools and fees for pupils in independent and non-maintained special schools. In addition, an estimated 236,233,036 will be spent in this financial year on centrally funded SEN activities. These include the costs of educational psychology services, assessment and statementing, parent partnership services and the provision of information.

Specialist Schools (Sponsorship)

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the average amount of support that a specialist school receives through corporate and charitable sponsors.

Charles Clarke: On average a school applying for specialist status will receive 33,500 (67 per cent.) of the required 50,000 sponsorship from corporate and charitable sources (based on figures from the October 2003 application round). This includes an element of corporate and charitable sponsorship raised through the new Partnership Fund, which was introduced in 2002 to support schools in raising sponsorship. Schools raise the rest of the required amount through a combination of fund-raising, charitable donations from parents and other activities.

Student Finance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate the Student Loan Company has made of the number of graduates who were in receipt of income contingent loans who are currently overseas; and what proportion of these have continued to make loan repayments.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 27 February 2004
	Repayments from borrowers who live overseas are made directly to the Student Loans Company (SLC). 4,700 people who should be repaying their income-contingent loan are currently living overseas. 56 per cent. of these have made no repayments because their income is below the repayment threshold of 10,000 per year; 32 per cent. have made repayments. The remainder are people who have not yet provided sufficient evidence in order for the SLC to assess their liability to repay their income-contingent loan.

Sure Start

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have been affected by the new rules requiring accreditation by Sure Start because their childminder looks after children in the children's home.

Margaret Hodge: I should clarify the situation regarding the Home Childcarers Scheme to which this question refers. The scheme was launched in April 2003 to extend eligibility to tax credits to families using childcare in their own homes. It does not impose a new accreditation requirement on home based carersseeking approval is entirely voluntary. Prior to the introduction of this scheme if a family needed to use childcare in their own home it was not possible to have this approved, or to access the childcare element of the Working Families Tax Credit.
	Currently there are 124 Home Childcarers who have been approved, by Ofsted, to care for children in the children's home. Home Childcarers can be employed by more than one family so the number of families using a Home Childcarer is unknown.

Sure Start

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many parents have lost their entitlement to the childcare element of Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit because they did not possess accreditation by Sure Start of the childminder operating in the parents' home.

Margaret Hodge: No parents have lost their entitlement to tax credits under this scheme. The purpose of the Home Childcarer Scheme is to extend the availability of tax credits rather than to restrict it.
	Prior to the Home Childcarers Scheme parents using childcare in the child's home were not eligible to claim the childcare element of the Working Families Tax Credit (now replaced by the Working Tax Credit). The introduction of this scheme has enabled some parents to claim tax credits when before they were unable to do so.
	This Government are committed to extending the Home Childcarers Scheme to carers other than registered childminders and to enable more parents to benefit from the help available through tax credits. We are committed to holding a consultation on the options for an extension in spring 2004.

Sure Start

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has held with Her Majesty's Treasury on debt problems faced by parents who have lost Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit because of the new Sure Start accreditation arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: As the purpose of the Home Childcarer Scheme is to extend the availability of tax credits rather than to restrict it no parents have faced debt problems as a result of its introduction.

Taiwanese Students

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many Taiwanese nationals study at universities in the UK;
	(2)  what he estimates the total amount in fees paid by Taiwanese nationals at UK universities was in the last academic year for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: In 2002/03 there were 4,248 Taiwanese nationals enrolled on higher education courses at UK higher education institutions.
	Estimates of the total amount of fees paid by overseas nationals are not held centrally.

University Attendance

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people attended university from (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside local education authority and (c) the United Kingdom in each year since 1996.

Alan Johnson: Figures at constituency level are not held centrally. The available information at local education authority level covers accepted applicants to full time first degree and HND courses through the Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS).
	
		Accepted applicants of all ages to full-time undergraduate courses via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) from South Tyneside LEA and England
		
			 Year of entry South Tyneside LEA domiciles English domiciles(35) 
		
		
			 199697 497 220,891 
			 199798 644 251,904 
			 199899 618 245,914 
			 19992000 596 249,883 
			 200001 623 254,472 
			 200102 655 269,447 
			 200203 665 274,345 
		
	
	(35) Accepted applicants with unknown English domicile are excluded from the figures.
	Source
	Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS)

University Attendance

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school leavers attended university from (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside local education authority and (c) the United Kingdom in each year since 1996; and what percentage these were of the total number of school leavers in each of these years.

Alan Johnson: Figures at constituency level are not held centrally. The available information at local education authority level covers accepted applicants to full time first degree and HMD courses through the Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS).
	
		Number of 18 year olds accepted for entry to full-time undergraduate courses via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) from South Tyneside LEA and England
		
			  South Tyneside LEAdomiciles English domiciles(36) 
			 Year of entry Number of 18 year olds accepted to HE courses Percentage of 18 year olds in LEA Number of 18 year olds accepted to HE courses Percentage of 18 year olds in England 
		
		
			 1996 239 13.7 109,646 19.9 
			 1997 318 15.7 123,065 20.5 
			 1998 299 14.8 124,077 20.0 
			 1999 307 15.2 122,607 20.0 
			 2000 330 16.7 123,596 20.6 
			 2001 336 17.2 131,200 21.5 
			 2002 353 17.4 134,727 22.0 
		
	
	(36) Accepted applicants with unknown English domicile are excluded from the figures.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seeking households containing children or pregnant women were placed in bed and breakfast accommodation by the National Asylum Support Service under legislation other than the Housing Act 1996 and are as a consequence not included in the provisions of the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2003 in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 2 February 2004
	The general practice of the National Asylum Support Service is that households containing children or pregnant women are not placed in bed and breakfast accommodation in dispersal areas.
	However, NASS grant funds six voluntary sector agencies to provide emergency accommodation, which is temporary accommodation provided pending dispersal, who provide a mixture of accommodation which may include bed and breakfast accommodation.
	I am unable to provide the requested information and could only do so at disproportionate cost.

Asylum Seekers

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answers of 25 February 2004, Official Report, column 277, to the hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, 
	(1)  with which countries the Government is in negotiations, other than Tanzania, on how to process claims for asylum nearer to the country of origin;
	(2)  whether such claims would be for recognition of refugee status in (a) Tanzania and (b) the UK;
	(3)  whether the processing of such claims for non-Tanzanian nationals would be carried out in Tanzania.

Beverley Hughes: Apart from Tanzania, we have not yet started any negotiations with other countries. These partnerships are not about processing asylum claims nearer to the country of origin. Rather the Tanzanians are helping us to establish whether certain failed asylum seekers in the United Kingdom who claimed as Somali are in fact Tanzanian. We are also seeking to help them better manage their own refugee caseload.

Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 20 January 2004, Official Report, column 1205W, on animal welfare, ref 147328, with reference to recommendation 14, when the Inspectorate will be reviewed; and by whom.

Caroline Flint: In its report, published in July 2002, the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures recommended that the Home Office Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate should be subject to periodic review, by a body other than the Inspectorate itself. The Committee went on to describe the Inspectorate as a trustworthy, professional body and also acknowledged the valuable role that it has played in creating a culture of care in establishments licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
	In the Government's response, published in January 2003, we welcomed the Select Committee's endorsement of the integrity of the Inspectorate and of the important contribution that it has made to the welfare of animals in designated establishments. However, we recognise that public awareness of the valuable job done by the Inspectorate is poor and agree that this needs to be remedied. We have, therefore, concluded that there would be value in the Inspectorate publishing an annual report on its work. The Inspectorate's first annual report will be published in the autumn of 2004.
	As to the periodic review of the Inspectorate, under Section 18 of the 1986 Act, Inspectors are responsible directly to the Secretary of State who is, in turn accountable to Parliament for their work. Inspectors are all medical or veterinary practitioners, as well as being civil servants, and are bound by medical or veterinary codes of professional conduct. In addition, in common with other Home Office staff, the Chief Inspector and members of the Inspectorate are subject to the civil service code and annual performance reviews as part of routine personnel management arrangements. In the light of these comprehensive arrangements, we do not believe that any further form of performance review is necessary. Members of the Inspectorate are highly professional and dedicated and have the complete confidence of Government Ministers.

Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 20 January 2004, Official Report, column 1205W, on animal welfare, ref 147328, with reference to recommendation 11, which Government department is taking the lead on the systematic and visible search for 3Rs methods in toxicology; where that Department's progress can be viewed; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: In its report, published in July 2002, the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures recommended that the Government and the scientific community should engage in a systematic and visible search for methods involving the 3Rsthe replacement of animal use, reduction of the number of animals used and the refinement of the procedures involved to minimise sufferingin toxicology and that the Government should nominate one department to take the lead on this.
	In the Government's response to the Select committee's report, published in January 2003, we agreed that a systematic and visible effort is required. As a first step, the Home Office is currently leading a review of the scope for improving the application of the 3Rs and promoting research into alternatives through the Inter-Departmental Group on the 3Rs. Membership of the Inter-Departmental Group is drawn from the Home Office, the Department of Health, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Office of Science and Technology, the Health and Safety Executive and other agencies.
	The work of the group includes exploration of the case for a United Kingdom centre for research into the 3Rs, which was also recommended by the House of Lords Select Committee, a review of the implementation of the Inter-Departmental Data-Sharing Concordat, announced in August 2000, and the review and revision of the Guidelines on Regulatory Toxicology and Safety Evaluation Studies, published in February 2001, and the statement of principles concerning animal welfare endorsed by the Home Office and other regulatory authorities in 1999Annex 1 to the Regulatory Toxicology Guidelines.
	I am currently considering the Inter-Departmental Group's further advice on the proposed United Kingdom centre for research into the 3Rs. I expect to receive the findings of the Inter-Departmental Group on the other two issues shortly and will then consider what further steps are required.
	Minutes of the meetings of the Inter-Departmental Group are published on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs2/interdept3rs.html.

Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2004, Official Report, column 1205W, on animal welfare, with reference to recommendation 12, what steps the Government have taken to urge EU member states to make replacements a priority.

Caroline Flint: In its report, published in July 2002, the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures recommended that the United Kingdom Government should use their influence to urge the European Union to make the development and validation of replacements for animal experiments a priority, particularly in toxicology.
	In our response, published in January 2003, the Government noted the Select Committee's view and agreed that replacement should be the ultimate goal. We also explained that we do not believe that it should be made a priority at the expense of reduction or refinement, as these are where progress can be made more quickly. We are instead fully committed to the furtherance of all of the 3Rsthe replacement of animal use, reduction of the number of animals used and the refinement of the procedures involved to minimise suffering.
	United Kingdom Government Departments and agencies are involved in a number of specific initiatives in the European Union to develop, validate and incorporate more advanced test methods into regulatory practice. The Government also continue to support the work of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) and the head of the Home Office Animals Scientific Procedures Division is now the United Kingdom representative on the ECVAM Scientific Advisory Committee and is contributing to discussions about the future direction of ECVAM's work. The Government also warmly welcome the liaison between ECVAM and its United States counterpart, the Interagency Co-ordinating Committee for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM), as a means of achieving greater progress, more quickly and ensuring commitment from more than one economic region. Quick gains cannot necessarily be expected, but we shall continue our efforts to persuade other member states of the importance of progress on the 3Rs.

Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2004, Official Report, column 1205W, on animal welfare, what factors underlay the decision not to invite expert scientific opinion opposed to primate experimentation to take part in the forum, with particular reference to (a) Animal Aid and (b) Europeans For Medical Advancement.

Caroline Flint: The aim of the stakeholder forum, which was held on 9 January 2004, was to hold informed debate on the recommendations contained in the Animal Procedures Committee's (APC) report entitled The use of primates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986analysis of current trends with particular reference to regulatory toxicology. This in turn was to assist preparation of a ministerial response to the issues which the APC has raised.
	The Home Office and the APC agreed that, in order to hold a focused debate, attendance at the forum should be limited to organisations with practical experience in the use of primates in scientific procedures, or with other particular expertise relevant to the report's recommendations.
	Consequently, invitees included holders of related project licences issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, from both the commercial and academic sectors, as well as individuals from funding and regulatory organisations and other Government Departments. Groups with expertise in alternatives to animal experiments were also invited to send representatives.
	It was decided that representatives from animal protection organisations such as Animal Aid and Europeans For Medical Advancement should not be invited to comment through this forum. Places at the forum were limited and the Home Office and the APC primarily wanted to test the technical basis and the practicalities of the recommendations with those experts in the use of primates best placed to contribute to such an exercise.
	A report on the forum will be placed on the Home Office and APC websites in the near future, and I would be pleased to receive informed comments from any other source before I further consider all the issues raised.

Asylum and Immigration

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers there are in (a) the constituency of Hyndburn and (b) the County of Lancashire.

Beverley Hughes: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Statistics on the location of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom are linked to the available information on the support that the asylum seeker receives. Asylum seekers currently in the United Kingdom are either in receipt of support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) or from local authorities, or are supporting themselves. Statistics regarding the location of asylum seekers not in receipt of NASS support are unavailable.
	The table gives data on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in the constituency of Hyndburn, as at the end of December 2003 (including dependants):
	
		
			  December 2003 
		
		
			 In NASS accommodation 5 
			 In receipt of subsistence only support from NASS 5 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	The table gives data on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in the County of Lancashire, as at the end of December 2003 (including dependants):
	
		
			  December 2003 
		
		
			 In NASS accommodation 6,345 
			 In receipt of subsistence only support from NASS 745 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

Asylum and Immigration

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which countries from which more than 1,000 asylum seekers have come to the UK within the last five years the UK (a) has and (b) does not have a readmission agreement; how many nationals from each of those countries remain in the UK; what their status is; and whether readmission agreements allow for the return of undocumented asylum seekers.

Beverley Hughes: There are 47 countries from which more than 1,000 applications have been made in the United Kingdom between 1999 and 2003. The countries and their numbers are contained in the list below. Of these countries, the United Kingdom has negotiated formal bilateral readmission agreements with Albania and Romania, which are currently being ratified. In addition, negotiations have commenced with Poland and will start shortly with Serbia and Montenegro. The European Commission has been mandated to negotiate Community readmission agreements on behalf of member states with Sri Lanka (negotiations have been concluded and the agreement is being ratified), China, Turkey, Pakistan, Algeria, Albania, Russia and Ukraine. Bilateral and Community readmission agreements set out the process and evidence required for the re-documentation of returning nationals.
	In addition, where it is our experience that a lack of documentation presents a barrier to removal to particular countries, the United Kingdom is working with the authorities of those countries to facilitate the process of identification and re-documentation of persons. These countries include Sri Lanka, India, Turkey, Somaliland, the Democratic Republic of Congo and China. Since October 2003 the United Kingdom has had a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding in operation governing returns to Afghanistan and very recently agreed with the Coalition Provisional Authority to effect returns to Iraq.
	
		Applications(37) , (38) received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, for nationalities from which the UK has received more than 1,000 asylum applications within the last five years
		
			 Nationality 19992003 
		
		
			 Iraq 34,575 
			 Somalia 30,575 
			 Afghanistan 27,945 
			 SAM(39) 23,835 
			 Sri Lanka 20,870 
			 China 16,135 
			 Iran 15,850 
			 Turkey 15,760 
			 Zimbabwe 14,315 
			 Pakistan 12,950 
			 India 9,480 
			 Democratic Republic of Congo 7,375 
			 Romania 7,300 
			 Sierra Leone 5,935 
			 Algeria 5,755 
			 Albania 5,605 
			 Czech Republic 5,260 
			 Nigeria 4,710 
			 Angola 4,640 
			 Poland 4,570 
			 Eritrea 3,830 
			 Burundi 3,360 
			 Bangladesh 3,280 
			 Jamaica 3,250 
			 Uganda 3,065 
			 Rwanda 3,030 
			 Ethiopia 2,820 
			 Russia 2,715 
			 Sudan 2,670 
			 Vietnam 2,655 
			 Ukraine 2,650 
			 Other Yugoslavia 2,630 
			 Colombia 2,515 
			 Congo 2,430 
			 Nepal 2,235 
			 Cameroon 2,090 
			 Moldova 2,035 
			 Croatia 1,970 
			 Lithuania 1,870 
			 Kenya 1,820 
			 Ecuador 1,770 
			 Nationality not known 1,620 
			 Ivory Coast 1,620 
			 Belarussia 1,500 
			 Liberia 1,425 
			 Macedonia 1,280 
			 Ghana 1,270 
			 Latvia 1,205 
		
	
	(37) Figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest 5.
	(38) May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices between January 1999 and March 2000.
	(39) Serbia and Montenegro (SAM) replaced Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) from 5 February 2003, SAM comprises the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Montenegro, and the Province of Kosovo (administered by the UN on an interim basis since 1999).
	Information on how many nationals from each of these countries are currently in the United Kingdom is not available. This could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records. In addition some applicants may leave the United Kingdom without informing the Immigration Service.

Asylum and Immigration

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were refused support under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 in 2003; and how many who were refused support appealed in the High Court.

Beverley Hughes: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Data on numbers of asylum seekers refused under Section 55 are as follows. Data is not available on the number of asylum seekers who were refused support under Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 that subsequently appealed in the High Court.
	Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 came into force on 8 January 2003, restricting the availability of National Asylum Support Service support to those asylum seekers who make an asylum application as soon as reasonably practicable.
	Figures in respect of asylum seekers refused under Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 in 2003 are.
	
		
			 2003 Number of cases refused under Section 55 of the NIA Act 2002 
		
		
			 Quarter 1 2,850 
			 Quarter 2 1,830 
			 Quarter 3 2,810 
			 Quarter 4 1,925 
			 Total 9,415

Asylum and Immigration

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum applications were made in-country in each of the last three years.

Beverley Hughes: The table shows the proportion of asylum applications made in country for each of the last three years.
	
		Asylum applications(40) received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 200103
		
			  2001 2002(41) 2003(42) 
		
		
			 Total 71,025 84,130 49,370 
			 Port 24,865 26,560 13,810 
			 Port percentage 35 32 28 
			 In country 46,160 57,570 35,560 
			 In country percentage 65 68 72 
		
	
	(40) Figures (other than percentages) are rounded to the nearest five
	(41) Revised data
	(42) Provisional data
	Information on the number of asylum applications is published in quarterly web pages and in the annual statistical bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom. Copies of these publications and others relating to general immigration to the United Kingdom are available from the Library and from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration 1.html.

Asylum and Immigration

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of accommodation contracted for by the National Asylum Support Service was in each year of the dispersal scheme; and if he will estimate the cost in the current year.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200001 115 
			 200102 247 
			 200203 319 
			 200304(43) Not available 
		
	
	(43) Payments for 200304 are expected to be broadly in line with 200203 but are expected to fall thereafter, as the recent fall in new applications for NASS support feeds through.

Criminal Assets

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the cash seizures that have been effected by the Assets Recovery Agency since its inception; what the value seized in each case was; and whether the order was enforced.

Caroline Flint: The Assets Recovery Agency has no power to seize and forfeit cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. This power is reserved to the police and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. As at the end of January 2004 a total of 1,219 cash seizures with a total value of 55.68 million had been made in England and Wales since the powers came into force in December 2002. Cash seized can only be forfeited when a forfeiture order has been made by a magistrates' court. A total of 64 cash forfeitures have been made under the Act with a total value of 2.98 million. Details of individual cash seizures and forfeitures are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	At present the minimum amount of cash which can be seized is 10,000. The threshold is to be reduced to 5,000 under The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Recovery of Cash in Summary Proceedings: Minimum Amount) Order 2004 which was laid before Parliament on 24 February.

Criminal Assets

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) confiscation and (b) restraint orders have been made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; and what the recoverable amount was in each case.

Caroline Flint: The confiscation and restraint powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 are triggered by offences committed after the provisions were brought into force on 24 March 2003. It will therefore be some time before confiscation cases are dealt with by the Crown Court in numbers.
	As at the end of January 2004 the information available is as follows:
	(a) 58 confiscation orders had been made under the Act with a total value of 1,089,849.
	(b) 59 restraint orders had been made of which 40 orders have a total value of 6,276,737. Information on the value of the other 19 orders is not currently available.
	In addition, the Assets Recovery Agency has 20 civil recovery cases subject to freezing orders with a total value of 12.7 million.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those who apply for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority was refused on the grounds that they have a criminal conviction, in the last year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority advise that in the 200203 financial year 79,248 applications were resolved. Of these 42,283 resulted in a monetary award, and 36,965 cases were rejected, of which 2,946 were rejected because of the applicant's criminal convictions. As a proportion, that is 3.7 per cent. of the resolved applications.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications there were from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in each of the last six years; and what number and percentage of applications were accepted.

Beverley Hughes: The table, which has been placed in the Library, gives asylum applications and initial decisions from 1997 to September 2003 for nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.
	Information on the number of asylum applications and initial decisions is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html The next quarterly publication, covering the fourth quarter of 2003 and provisional full year data, will be published on 24 February 2004.

Departmental Security

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staff complement of the Security Services is; what the range of payment for serving security officers is; and what proportion of security officers speak Arabic.

David Blunkett: There are currently over 2,000 staff in the Security Service. Starting salaries range from 14,500 for administrative staff to a maximum of 26,000 for some technical specialists. The top salary is of course that of the Director General (Permanent Secretary pay range 120,000-124,999 at 31 January 2003). For operational reasons it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the number of Arab speakers available to the service.

Detention and Removal Centres

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what access people detained in detention and removal centres have to independent monitoring boards.

Beverley Hughes: People detained at immigration removal centres are able to submit a request or complaint to the Independent Monitoring Board at any time and members of the board should make themselves available to detainees whenever they are carrying out one of their regular visits. In addition, a member of the Independent Monitoring Board is obliged to visit any detainee who is subject to removal from association (Rule 40), temporary confinement (Rule 42) or special control or restraint (Rule 43) within 24 hours of the person being subjected to these rules.

Drugs Testing and Treatment

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drugs testing and treatment orders have been issued in (a) North Yorkshire and (b) the Vale of York.

Caroline Flint: The information requested, for the years 2000 to 2002, is contained in the table.
	
		Persons sentenced to drug treatment and testing orders in North Yorkshire and the Petty Sessional Area of York, 200002
		
			  In North Yorkshire of which, in York PSA 
		
		
			 2000(44)   
			 2001 61 33 
			 2002 73 27 
		
	
	(44) From October.
	Statistics for 2003 will be published in the autumn of this year.

EU Accession States

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to remove from the UK citizens of EU accession states working within the UK when they cease employment, from 1 May onwards.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 27 February 2004
	An accession state national that ceases employment in the United Kingdom will continue to have a right of residence in the United Kingdom provided that they are self-sufficient. If they are unable to support themselves and are an unreasonable burden on the state they will be liable for removal.

EU Accession States

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence his Department has collated on the number of nationals from (a) Poland and (b) other EU accession states who have already arranged transportation to the UK following 1 May; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: No reliable information on the numbers of nationals from Poland or other EU accession states booking transport to travel to the United Kingdom for a visit or any other purpose after 1 May is available.

Firearms Certificates

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to publicise (a) the need, under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 for existing owners of air weapons and imitation firearms to apply for a firearm certificate before 30 April and (b) the implications of not doing so.

Caroline Flint: Section 37 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 gives the police the power to arrest someone carrying an air weapon (whether loaded or not) or an imitation firearm in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. There is no requirement for them to obtain a firearms certificate.
	Section 39 brings into force a specific ban on the sale, purchase, transfer, acquisition and manufacture of air guns using a self-contained gas-cartridge system. Existing owners will be able to retain possession provided they obtain a firearms certificate for the gun, and have until 30 April 2004 to do so.
	We have publicised these measures through A Guide to the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, which was included in the TOGETHER Campaign Pack issued on 20 February 2004. Guidance to the police was also issued in Home Office Circular 01/2004, which was sent out on 14 January 2004. Both of these documents and other relevant information are available on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk.
	In addition, the Home Office has produced a number of posters and leaflets which explain what people must do if they want to keep any guns they already have which use the self-contained gas cartridge system. These have been sent to all police forces for display and further distribution as they see fit. After discussion with the relevant trade organisations they have also been sent to dealers together with a special sticker to put on tins of air gun pellets as a reminder to their customers.
	We are continuing to work with the police and other interested parties with a view to securing further local publicity.

Gun Crime

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much Government funding, broken down by local authority area, is given to community groups working to combat gun crime.

Caroline Flint: In the current financial year, the Government are providing 1.5 million from recovered criminal assets specifically to support community action to help tackle gun crime and gun culture. 300,000 of this has been allocated to Disarm Trust, an independent organisation that raises money and provides support for community groups working to reduce gun crime, supports victims of gun crime and provides help for witnesses. The remainder is being distributed by eight of the Government Offices for the Regions to support community action. The funding is not broken down by local authority areas. The allocations to the eight Government Offices are set out as follows.
	
		
			 Government Office  
		
		
			 London 400,000 
			 West Midlands 200,000 
			 South West 75,000 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 75,000 
			 South East 100,000 
			 North West 200,000 
			 East Midlands 75,000 
			 East of England 75,000 
		
	
	In addition, we are providing funding for community-based programmes to tackle gun crime through the Street Crime Initiative in a number of areas. This money is in addition to other funding provided through the Government Offices, for example, to support regeneration and to tackle deprivation and social exclusion, which help to address the factors that can give rise to criminality, including gun crime.

Health Tourism

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are (a) in place and (b) being researched or considered by his Department to combat health tourism.

Beverley Hughes: Immigration Rules (HC 395 as amended) provide for anyone to be refused entry clearance or leave to enter to the United Kingdom who seeks entry for a purpose not covered by the Rules. The Rules provide for entry for the purpose of private medical treatment but not for NHS treatment. They further provide for an Immigration Office to take account of a Medical Inspector's assessment of the likely course of treatment in deciding whether a person seeking entry for private medical treatment has sufficient means at his disposal.
	Immigrants who seek NHS treatment after entry to the United Kingdom may be liable to charges for such treatment in accordance with the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989 No.306) as amended. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Health has recently announced proposals to amend these Regulations to remove certain loopholes that have been exploited by health tourists. In particular anyone who has no legal basis to remain in the United Kingdom will be liable to be charged for NHS treatment, except for emergencies or conditions for which they were already receiving treatment before the final determination of their status.
	The Government have been undertaking a comprehensive interdepartmental review of the issues surrounding immigration and healthcare. The review is ongoing and final decisions remain to be taken.
	As announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, Official Report, 23 February 2004, columns 2325), from 1 May the Government will be requiring workers from the European Union (EU) accession countries (except Malta and Cyprus) to register with the Home Office. In accordance with EU Regulations, any resident of an EU member state will be entitled to receive free of charge treatment for which the need arises during a visit to the United Kingdomthe cost is met by their home country. But to be fully exempt from charges for routine hospital treatment for a pre-existing condition, patients from elsewhere in the EU will need to provejust as for any other overseas visitorthat they meet one of the exemption criteria in the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations, for example the exemption for those employed in the United Kingdom. This will apply to registered workers from the accession states. The Government will continue to take every step to ensure that our benefit and healthcare system is not open to abuse.

Local Authority Asylum Costs

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when the audit of Kent county council's claim relating to asylum seeker costs will be completed; and if he will make a statement on its delay;
	(2)  when his Department will publish the grant rules for asylum costs for the current year;
	(3)  what asylum costs were paid by (a) his Department and (b) Kent county council; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 23 February 2004
	The audit of Kent county council's claims relating to asylum support costs is the responsibility of the District Auditor. Audit work on the claim for 200203 was delayed initially by work required to finalise the lists of asylum seekers eligible for support during the year. The due date for the completion of the 200203 audit has been set at 31 March 2004. At present the council are also investigating the exact amount of the outstanding balance for 200203 and this may also delay the completion of the audit.
	The instructions for 200304 relating to Adults and Families were published in June 2003. The instructions for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children (UASC) were published in January 2004.
	The Home Office reimburses local councils for asylum support costs via a series of interim payments during the year. Kent county council submitted four interim claims in 200203 and three for the year to date in 200304. These have all been paid. The outstanding balance for 200203 is subject to investigation as mentioned above. If it is agreed that a significant amount has not been covered by the interim claims in 200203 then the Home Office is prepared to make a further payment against the final audited claim.

Malawi (Work Permits)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits have been issued to health workers from Malawi since January 2003.

Beverley Hughes: The number of work permits issued to Malawi health workers in the calendar year 2003 was 142.

Mr. T. Umbalan

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds he is considering a further application from Mr.T Umabalan of Epsom, Surrey, to remain in the UK; and if he will make a further statement on the contents of his letter to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell on 10 June 2002 in relation to this case.

Beverley Hughes: Mr Umabalan has applied for settlement based on his long residence in the United Kingdom and for leave to remain on Human Rights grounds.

Removals

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were removed from the UK in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The number of people removed from the United Kingdom in each year from 1997 to 2002 (the latest available year) is shown in the table.
	
		Persons removed from the United Kingdom 1997 to 2002(45)
		
			  Total persons removed(46) 
		
		
			 1997 31,145 
			 1998 34,920 
			 1999 37,780 
			 2000 46,645 
			 2001 49,135 
			 2002(47) 65,460 
		
	
	(45) Under sections 3(5), 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1971, or under section 10 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
	(46) Including persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action
	had been initiated against them.
	(47) Provisonal figures.
	Information on the total number of people removed each year from the United Kingdom is published annually in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom and in the Command Publication of the same name. These are available from the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html and from the Library. Information on the total number of people removed from the United Kingdom in 2003 is due to be published in the aforementioned statistical bulletin on the Home Office website towards the end of August 2004.

Speed Cameras

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was raised in fines from speed cameras in each year since their inception in the Lancashire police force area.

Caroline Flint: Information on the revenue raised from speed offences detected by camera is not available.
	Available information on the number of fixed penalties and court fines ordered to be paid for offence of 'speeding detected by camera' in the calendar years 1997 to 2001 is shown in the table for the Lancashire police force area.
	Information for 2002 will be available in the spring.
	Not all fines and fixed penalties will have been paid.
	
		Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speeding offences detected by cameras(48) , (49) in the Lancashire police force area, 19972001
		
			  Fixed penalties Court Proceedings(50) 
			 Offenceand year Number of tickets Estimated revenue () Number of fines Total amount of fine () Average fine(51) 
		
		
			 1997 5,600 224,800 480 37,100 78 
			 1998 14,700 588,900 880 96,000 109 
			 1999 22,300 892,600 1,200 120,200 101 
			 2000 18,400 796,100 930 79,800 86 
			 2001 21,400 1,283,500 1,400 90,800 65 
		
	
	(48) Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999.
	(49) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(50) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
	(51) Estimate based on 40 fixed penalty charge to October 2000. From November 2000 the penalty was raised to 60.
	Note:
	Reliable data only available from 1997 onwards for speeding offences detected by camera.

Yarl's Wood

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will publish in full the two reports of the Prisons Ombudsman, concerning the Yarl's Wood Detention Centre in North East Bedfordshire when he receives them; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects to receive the reports from the Prisons Ombudsman, on (a) the circumstances surrounding the fire at Yarl's Wood on 14 February 2002 and (b) the allegations of racism among security staff at Yarl's Wood.

Beverley Hughes: I can confirm that both reports will be published in full, once I have the opportunity to consider carefully their contents.
	With regard to Stephen Shaw's inquiry into the events at Yarl's Wood on 14/15 February 2002 there is an expectation that it will be submitted to me this summer.
	I can confirm that a draft of Stephen Shaw's separate report into allegations of racism at Yarl's Wood has now been received. Stephen Shaw has yet to finalise the report in a form suitable for publication. When he has done so and I have considered its contents, I will make arrangements for its publication as soon as possible.